Detroit Diesel Unveils Year 2000 Series 50 Bus & Coach Engine
17 March 2000
Detroit Diesel Unveils Year 2000 Series 50 Bus & Coach Engine
DETROIT, March 17 Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC)
will unveil their new Year 2000 Series 50 Bus engine during the
Mid America Truck Show next week.
The new Series 50 bus engine features both exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
and variable nozzle turbocharger technology (VNT). EGR and VNT are both
activated by Detroit Diesel Electronic Controls (DDEC).
"To meet the 2000 bus standards, we chose to combine the proven Series 50
engine platform and DDEC IV, with state-of-the-art EGR. EGR systems have been
refined over the years as a result of their wide spread use in the automotive
industry. The addition of VNT further enhances the system. There are other
approaches to meet the new standards, such as simply retarding engine timing.
However, retarded timing results in a noticeable loss of fuel economy and
acceleration. By using EGR and VGT, controlled by DDEC, we are able to give
our customers the best package of performance, economy, low cost of operation
and low emissions," according to Mark Bara, Senior Vice President and General
Manager, Series 60 / 50 product line at DDC.
EGR and VNT work as follows: Depending on speed and load, the EGR valve
in the exhaust system is either open or closed. When closed, exhaust gases
exit the turbocharger in the normal way. When the EGR valve is open, a
percentage of the exhaust gases are diverted, first through a cooler, and then
into the intake manifold, to mix with incoming air. The resulting mixture of
fresh air and recirculated exhaust gas burns at a lower temperature in the
cylinder, thereby reducing NOx. DDEC continuously monitors a variety of
engine operating conditions to keep NOx low and at the same time provide
excellent fuel economy and performance.
VNT features small DDEC controlled vanes inside the turbocharger housing.
The position of the vanes can alter turbo-boost and pressure in the exhaust
system. A sufficient differential of pressure, between the exhaust and intake
systems, is necessary for proper flow through the EGR. DDEC moves the vanes
in order to provide the necessary pressure differential and to improve fuel
economy and performance.
DDC is the first major heavy-duty engine manufacturer to offer VNT and EGR
on a high volume production engine. Detroit Diesel has had Series 50 field
units in service since mid-1999 accumulating hundreds of thousands of miles.
Detroit Diesel will deliver over 7,500 Series 50 engines to the Bus market in
advance of October of 2002.
Detroit Diesel Corporation is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and
service of heavy-duty diesel and alternative fuel engines, automotive diesel
engines and engine-related products. The company offers a complete line of
diesel engines from 22 to 10,000 horsepower for the on-highway, off-road and
automotive markets. Detroit Diesel services these markets directly and
through a worldwide network of more than 2,800 authorized distributor and
dealer locations. DDC is a QS-9000 certified company.
Detroit Diesel's major shareholder is Penske Corporation, a closely-held
diversified transportation services company whose operations include Penske
Truck Leasing Company, Diesel Technology Company, Penske Automotive Group,
Inc., Penske Auto Centers, Inc., and Penske Capital Partners, L.L.C. Penske
Corporation and its subsidiaries manage business with annual revenues
exceeding $10 billion and employ more than 33,000 people around the world.
Detroit Diesel's World Wide Web address is http://www.detroitdiesel.com
