In the pipeline

One of the knocks against using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to help diesel engines meet tougher emission limits starting in 2007 is that it requires an injection of urea to remove NOx from the exhaust. That means in addition to refilling your fuel tank, you have to top up a separate reservoir of urea, as well.

This makes environmental regulators nervous, fearing that without a distribution network for urea, truckers will run without it, defeating the emission controls.

Two staunch supporters of SCR–Volvo Powertrain, the supplier of engines to Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America, and Detroit Diesel–last month hosted the inaugural meeting of the Urea Distribution Stakeholder Group. Members include urea producers, truckstop operators, fuel refiners, fleet operators, and truck equipment manufacturers. The group’s goal: assure the EPA that a urea infrastructure could be in place by 2007.

For details, contact Tom Freiwald, vice-president of marketing for Detroit Diesel, 313/592-5912, or John Walsh, manager of trade relations for Mack Trucks, 610/709-2560.