Rhodia's Eolys Advances Green Diesel Technology; 99 Percent of Particulates Eliminated by Using Catalyst and Filter

DETROIT--March 9, 2004--With a national focus on lower emissions, higher fuel efficiency and broad energy legislation, new engine technologies for the automotive industry promise to deliver fuel-efficiency and performance with virtually no tailpipe particulate emissions.

Even diesel engines, the work horse of America's heavy-duty vehicles, might be in for a whole new image with the help of new technology from Rhodia that keeps diesel's advantages, minimizes its disadvantages, and makes it more desirable for passenger vehicles, too.

In technical presentations at this week's annual conference of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in Detroit, Rhodia is participating in three technical discussions that document the proven effectiveness of its diesel technology. According to Laurent Rocher of Rhodia's catalysis business unit, proven technology exists today which eliminates the black, sooty clouds of diesels, and still delivers the power and acceleration so important to American drivers.

"This changes both the reality and the perception of diesel technology," Rocher asserts. "We can now embrace diesels more widely in the U.S. market, improve vehicle efficiency and meet the emission requirements set to take effect in just a few years. We can deliver clean, efficient horsepower, without the old drawbacks."

"This is what Detroit wants, it's what Washington wants and it's what American drivers want." Rocher is presenting a technical paper on diesel exhaust emission control at the SAE meeting.

Rhodia's Electronics & Catalysis (E&C) business has begun a more aggressive campaign to clear regulatory hurdles and market its Eolys(TM) diesel fuel-borne catalyst in North America.

"Diesel engines are the most widely used of all engines for industrial and transport applications," according to Chris York, general manager for Rhodia Electronics and Catalysis in North America. "Yet when you mention diesel, most people think of an engine that is loud and dirty with plumes of black smoke coming from the tailpipe."

"With our Eolys(TM) product, combined with a diesel particulate filter (DPF), we eliminate the particulate aspect of smoke. And we're doing it today, safely, reliably and economically, in nearly a million cars."

Eolys(TM) is a technically advanced, rare earth-based fuel-borne catalyst. When added to diesel fuel in trace amounts, it promotes the combustion of the soot collected by the DPF and allows its fast, complete and safe regeneration, a key feature of this best available technology. The Eolys(TM) catalyst can be premixed or added to the vehicle tank via an automatic, on-board dosing system. Engine performance and durability are not affected in the process.

York explains, "The combination of Eolys(TM) with a diesel particulate filter is the most efficient, most reliable and the main solution currently available at an industrial scale for volume application. By using this combination in the post-treatment system, you achieve spectacular results. More than 99 percent of soot particulates are eliminated."

Further optimization of this winning combination is already planned, by extending the DPF maintenance intervals to 150,000 miles, and a future combination with nitrogen oxides (NOx) after-treatment systems.

York adds that auto manufacturers are noticing the technical advances. Starting in May, 2000, some of Europe's largest diesel manufacturers began phasing in the Eolys(TM) fuel-borne catalyst in their range of diesel passenger vehicles equipped with DPF filter technology.

Already, more than 800,000 vehicles in Europe are equipped with Eolys(TM). Projections show the number of vehicles fitted with this system will rise from a total of 270,000 in 2002 to 1 million by 2005. The market of diesel passenger cars in Europe represents a potential sales volume of 4.5 million units per year (nearly 45 percent of current car registrations - over 50 percent forecasted for 2010).

In the US, this figure is "only" 0.26 percent for the moment but "things may change," as announced by some major US car manufacturers to the last congress of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in Detroit, last March.

"The DPF- Eolys(TM) catalyst combination ensures long-term performance that is significantly better than required by European environmental regulations due to be introduced in 2005," York explains. "This should be a major contributor to the debate on the environmental impact of diesel vehicles."

Further information on Eolys(TM) is available at www.rhodia-ec.com

Rhodia is one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialty chemicals. Providing a wide range of innovative products and services to the consumer care, food, industrial care, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, automotive, electronics and fibers markets, Rhodia offers its customers tailor-made solutions based on the cross-fertilization of technologies, people and expertise. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia generated net sales of $6.9 billion (5.5 billion euros) in 2003 and employs approximately 23,000 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges.