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Volvo Recognized for Its Pioneering Efforts

20 September 2000

Volvo Car Corporation Recognized for Its Pioneering Efforts as United States Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Three-Way Catalytic Converter

    ROCKLEIGH, N.J., Sept. 20 This year, the United States
celebrates the 25th anniversary of the introduction of advanced emission
control in passenger cars.  Since 1975, this technology has reduced pollution
by over 1.5 billion tons in the USA alone and the modern car offers a 95-99%
reduction in emission levels.  Worldwide, over 400 million vehicles have been
equipped with converters.
    In a recent ceremony to commemorate the event, Volvo Car Corporation of
Sweden was the only non-American automaker to receive recognition for its
pioneering efforts in the field.
    Dr. Stephen Wallman received the honor on behalf of Volvo at a ceremony
held in the US Capitol in Washington DC on 13 September, in recognition of the
unprecedented impact of catalytic converter and oxygen sensor (Lambdasond)
technology in terms of lowering emission levels.  Development of this
ingenious emission control system -- which affords a dramatic reduction in
exhaust emissions -- was led by Volvo.
    As the first automaker in the world to use the technology, Volvo
introduced the system in the US in 1976.  The Volvo three-way catalytic
converter (TWC) and oxygen sensor was the first emission control system of its
type to reduce all three regulated emissions -- hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide
and nitrogen oxides -- in one and the same unit.
    Stephen Wallman:  "The three-way catalyst and Lambdasond have been as
significant to the environment as another Volvo invention -- the three-point
safety belt -- has been to road safety.
    "It is a matter of great satisfaction and pride to Volvo Car Corporation
that this technology has now been adopted -- with various degrees of
refinement -- by all of the world's automakers and is used on virtually all
gasoline cars produced in the world today."
    Despite the environmental advances which have been achieved to date, Dr.
Wallman stresses the challenge of developing and marketing even more refined
versions of TWC and Lambdasond technology:  "Huge expectations are being
placed on new types of power trains for the cars for the future.  All car
manufactures are working on the development of such systems and that is
important.  However, the realistic expectation is that the industry will have
to rely on existing gasoline and diesel engine technologies to meet its volume
production requirements for at least another decade.
    "Three hundred million new cars will be needed just to replace the
existing fleet during that period. The great majority of these will be powered
by internal combustion engines, which will have to be extremely clean to
improve air quality in cities severely affected by pollution around the world.
    "This is why we at Volvo Cars are focusing on the further development of
our technology and are marketing our cars worldwide with the most
advanced TWC technology -- not just where this is required by law."