No phase-in for low-sulfur diesel, engine manufacturers say

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (August 31, 2001) — The Engine Manufacturers Association is urging federal environmental regulators in the United States to put new low-sulfur diesel standards in place all at once rather than phasing them in. The EMA is a lobby group representing manufacturers of internal combustion engines.

Speaking at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency workshop on diesel fuel characteristics and emissions, EMA spokesperson Lisa Stegink said engine manufacturers need a nationwide diesel fuel sulfur cap of 15 ppm to meet upcoming onroad diesel engine emissions standards.

“EMA supports a nationwide, harmonized on-highway diesel fuel with no phase-in and believes that boutique fuels must be avoided,” Stegink said. “Ultra-low sulfur diesel is needed to enable aftertreatment technologies and to allow pull ahead of clean diesel technology, and we need it to be available no later than June 2006.”

Changes in fuel parameters such as cetane or aromatic content are helpful in reducing emissions, but such changes should be implemented consistently across the country to avoid creation of boutique fuel markets and should not slow the nationwide introduction of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, she said.