Transport Partnership
U.b. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies:
Retrofit Devices for Drayage
Integrating retrofit technologies into the existing drayage fleet can achieve significant reductions in
emissions depending on the technology selected.
What is the challenge?
With the development of cleaner engine
technologies, the emission profiles of diesel trucks
have improved over time. These cleaner
technologies take time to work their way into the
existing truck fleet however. The drayage fleet,
since it typically consists of the oldest trucks on the
road, is the last to see improvements from the
cleaner technologies added to new trucks.
Consequently, areas served by the drayage fleet
are subject to higher pollution levels.
What is the solution?
Engine replacement will capture the technological
improvements recently introduced, however it is
often prohibitively expensive. If engine
replacement is not an option, there are a number
of retrofit technologies or fuel additives that can
improve emissions from older trucks. Retrofit
control devices tend to be engine-specific, with
options for older trucks remaining more limited
than for newer models. Proper maintenance and
use of the retrofit device is required to ensure
continued effectiveness of these devices on older
higher emitting trucks.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with
the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
establishing reciprocity in the verification of
emissions control technologies. There are
approximately six technologies/additives available
for pre-1988 engines on the lists of verified
technologies for both CARB and EPA.
The results are in ...
The technologies/additives that are approved for
use in older trucks are listed in the table below
along with the expected emissions improvement.
All of these options come with slight fuel efficiency
penalties. Retrofit devices applied to older engines
have the potential to reduce particulate matter
(PM), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons
(HC) whereas devices that reduce nitrogen oxides
(NOX) or carbon dioxides (CO2) are still being
developed. Also, these devices must be
maintained properly and operated using low sulfur
(500 ppm or less) on-highway fuel. Adding
biodiesel is one of the few options to improve CO2
emissions from older trucks, however biodiesel
potentially increases NOX emission rates.
Next steps
The technology to improve the emissions profile of
older trucks exists. It is simply a matter of paying
for it. There are no efficiency improvements that
accrue to those adopting the new technologies,
requiring the provision of incentive mechanisms.
California's Carl Moyer Program helps fund
technologies that achieve greater than required
emission reductions. This government funded
program is one mechanism that could speed the
adoption of retrofit devices.
The EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program Web
site highlights information for fleet
owners/operators considering retrofit options for
their vehicles, and can be found at:
www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/overview.htm.
Percent Emissions Reductions
Manufacturer
Engelhard
Lubrizol
Lubrizol Engine Control Systems
Various
Various
Johnson Matthey
Technology
CMX Catalyst Muffler
PuriNOx
Water emulsion fuel
AZ Purimuffler
AZ Purifier
Biodiesel (1 to
100%)
Cetane Enhancers
CEM Catalyst Muffler
PM
20
16 to 58
20
Oto47
n/a
20
CO
40
-35 to 33
40
Oto47
n/a
40
U.S. EPA Office of Transportation & Air Quality • EPA420-F-06-003 • (734) 214-4767 phone • smartway_transport
NOx
n/a
Qto20
n/a
Oto-10
Oto5
n/a
gepa.gov •
HC
50
-30 to -120
50
Oto67
n/a
50
www.epa.gov/smartway
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