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EPA, Ford Test Promising Clean Diesel Technology on Passenger Vehicles

Release Date: 01/28/2005
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(Ann Arbor, Mich. -- 01/28/05) EPA and Ford Motor Company are refining and testing the potential for commercial application of a promising clean diesel technology that meets stringent EPA tailpipe emission standards and is more fuel-efficient than gasoline. This is the second phase of a research
agreement between Ford and EPA to examine a new emissions control technology called Clean Diesel Combustion (CDC), which was developed and patented by EPA.

"Diesel engines are an extremely attractive technology to help achieve EPA's future emissions standards," said Jeff Holmstead, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation. "The challenge has been to maintain diesel's efficiency, while making the diesel ultra-clean in a cost effective manner. Moving these
types of innovative technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace is essential, if we are to continue to improve air quality for all Americans."

Ford and EPA announced the agreement at EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., where they showcased a Ford Galaxy minivan to demonstrate the clean diesel technology. The diesel minivan gets 30-40 percent better mileage than a gasoline minivan, while meeting EPA's
emission standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx) of .07 grams per mile (Tier 2 bin 5).

CDC is one of several emerging clean diesel technologies that promise to meet EPA's tailpipe emission standards and improve fuel economy in cars, SUVs and trucks. CDC technology achieves EPA NOx standards through a newly developed diesel combustion process that does not produce NOx during fuel
combustion, thus avoiding the need for NOx controls in the exhaust system. Because NOx can react in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone, preventing NOx emissions from vehicles is necessary to protect air quality, public health and the environment.

Currently, less than one percent of passenger vehicles in the United States are powered by diesel engines. In the future, however, clean diesel technologies such as CDC may allow more American consumers to benefit from diesel's performance, durability and fuel efficiency. Diesel is typically 25 to 40 percent more fuel efficient than gasoline.

"Clean diesel engine development is an important part of Ford Motor Company's global strategy to meet the future needs of our customers and the environment," said Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "We are pleased to partner with the EPA in this effort, recognizing that our research results can help meet key challenges facing the automotive industry. Ford's collaboration with the EPA accelerates the development of technologies that will potentially enable the application of clean diesel engines across many vehicle platforms."

Margo Oge, EPA director of the Office of Transportation Air Quality, said, "We are proud of the researchers in our Ann Arbor Laboratories that invented and are developing this exciting diesel engine technology, and are very pleased that Ford has partnered with us as we work to broaden the range of options available to the auto industry to cost effectively introduce clean diesels into the marketplace."

The EPA-Ford partnership on Clean Diesel Combustion technology is occurring through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, which Congress established to facilitate technology transfer of patented inventions from national laboratories to industry and the marketplace. As a contractor to EPA, FEV Engine Technology Inc. assisted in the development of EPA's patented Clean Diesel Combustion
technology.

For more information about Clean Diesel Combustion technology, visit : https://www.epa.gov/otaq/technology/index.htm#partnership .