Cummins Demonstrates Road Map for High-Efficiency Diesel
by TreeHugger on 05. 6.05
Cummins, Inc. (NYSE:CMI), has demonstrated an ISX heavy-duty truck engine with an increased Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of 45 percent while reducing emissions to levels associated with the future introduction of 2007 EPA-mandated technology. Particulate Matter emissions were reduced to 0.01 gram/hp-hr by utilizing a Cummins Particulate Filter, while oxides of nitrogen were lowered to 1.2 gram/hp-hr using in-cylinder combustion control.
As reported in the joint Cummins/DOE press release: "The work provides a foundation for the further development of engines capable of meeting EPA 2007/10 emissions. Current heavy-duty engines meeting the EPA 2002 regulation typically achieve a BTE level of 41 percent".
Brake Thermal Efficiency represents in percentage terms the amount of energy converted from diesel fuel into useful mechanical work by the engine. Achieving higher fuel efficiency also results in reduced CO2 greenhouse gas emissions from the engine.
OK so that really is pretty dry, for even the most analytical of TreeHuggers. Wait, wait...don't click out yet. Translation: Mileage for big trucks can and will get better. Most important, today's hazardous particulate emissions from diesel engines can actually go down to acceptable levels. No more smoggy buses and dump trucks (eventually).
Most curiously, we got the standard promulgated in the US before Europe even attempted it. Why? A good guess is that US engine makers realized it would get them market share globally. Collaborating with USEPA made it a community standard with world market power. Let do that dance again and again.
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Caterpillar's engines have actually beaten out Cummins in the emissions category lately. GM's New Flyer buses in Seattle are already using them in a hybrid system.
Of course, if you ask the Seattle P-I, the buses are terrible because they don't get 40% better mileage than the regular ones - ignoring the better emissions, and the fact that the buses are on express routes (freeway), where they can't really see the benefits of hybrid drives.
The race is on! That's great news. I look forward to the day when this technology gets scaled down to passenger car applications and a mid-sized vehicle can get 40mpg with low NOX and particulate emissions.
Great - improving the emissions from diesel engines would make them that much more compelling.
Justin, that's the thing. Remember that diesels get much better gas mileage than an equivalent gasoline engine, and with a biodiesel mix, you get even better emissions than pure ultra low sulfur diesel. A B50 or better mix is better than gasoline in everything but NOx, and you make up for that with increased mileage.
Heck, a VW Golf TDI is only $19,000.
My recollection is that the low emission buses in Seattle use the 5.9 liter, B series Cummins engines.