Advanced Diesel Technologies Featured During Sustainable Transportation Day In Washington D.C.

The latest clean diesel innovations are on display at the Department of Energy's showcase of sustainable transportation solutions

WASHINGTON -- June 22, 2015: The latest near-zero emissions and fuel savings technologies will be on display at the U.S. Department of Energy's Sustainable Transportation Day June 22nd at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The event will feature Freightliner's SuperTruck that more than doubles fuel economy from a heavy-duty Class 8 tractor powered with a diesel engine.

"The Class 8 tractor on display today demonstrates that diesel is a sustainable technology today and will be an integral part of achieving our clean air, climate and energy savings goals," said Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum. "Advanced engine technologies showcased in Freightliner's SuperTruck significantly improves engine efficiency by fifty percent. Other technologies including advanced aerodynamics, lightweight materials and others will further help improve the ability of the diesel engine to move goods using less fuel.

"While the vehicle on display today demonstrates the capability of technology to further improve fuel economy, advanced technologies are already on the road today delivering substantial clean air and fuel savings benefits," said Schaeffer. "These significant benefits come after more than a decades' worth of investments in innovation by heavy-duty vehicle and engine manufacturers."

According to research commissioned by the Diesel Technology Forum, almost one-in-four heavy-duty vehicles ranging from large pickups, to first responder vehicles, urban delivery trucks to large Class 8 tractors are powered by an engine that meets or exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's emissions standards for model year 2010.

"Manufacturers have deployed fuel savings technologies along with advanced near-zero emission technologies that have saved 21 million barrels of crude oil and reduced carbon emissions by nine million tons since 2010, while eliminating 1.5 million tons of emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx)," Schaeffer said.

Advanced Biofuel Capabilities Enhance Diesel as a Sustainable Transportation Option Diesel engines found in vehicles ranging from passenger vehicles all the way to large tractors are capable of operating on blends of high quality, bio-based fuel, including biodiesel.

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers biodiesel an advanced biofuel meaning it delivers at least fifty percent reduction in carbon emissions. Most heavy-duty diesel engines are capable of operating on blends up to 20 percent of biodiesel illustrating that the diesel powertrain is part of any strategy to reduce fuel use and carbon emissions," said Schaeffer.

Second Generation Biofuels Show Promise in Delivering Clean Air and Carbon Reductions Recent announcements from Neste, the leading producer of second generation renewable diesel, in addition to a collaboration between Audi, a leading luxury automobile manufacturer and Sunfire, a renewable diesel fuel producer, show promise for the future of emerging biobased diesel fuels. Second generation renewable diesel fuels further reduce carbon emissions while also improving emissions including NOx, a smog forming compound.

"We were excited to learn about Neste's announcement of a driving challenge across the entire country on just one tank of renewable diesel," Schaeffer said. "This impressive feat will be yet another major demonstration of the fuel efficiency capabilities of the diesel engine that can be further enhanced when running on blends of renewable diesel fuel."

The "Across the USA Challenge", which began on Sunday, June 21st, in Atlantic Beach, Florida with a destination of the Pacific Coast in Santa Monica, California arriving June 26th, will run through eight states over 2,400 miles using a custom-built by CLP Motorsports powered by a 1.9 litre Volkswagen diesel engine. The journey on just one tank of fuel is made possible by NEXBTL renewable diesel that is produced from bio-based raw materials.

"Renewable diesel fuel is also showing its potential to enhance fuel economy along with near zero emissions technologies as the recent collaboration between Audi and Sunfire demonstrate," said Schaffer. The synthetic e-diesel, which is being developed, is free from sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbons, and its high cetane number means it is readily ignitable. It is suitable for admixing with fossil diesel or, prospectively, for use as a fuel in its own right, according to Audi and Sunfire.

"While e-diesel is still in the research stage, it is another example of the remarkable advancements in developing cleaner and more efficient diesel fuels further contributing to diesel's sustainability credentials" Schaeffer said.