Crain’s Chicago Business reports that Navistar will be the first manufacturer to try a clean diesel engine approach developed by none other than the Environmental Protection Agency.

An announcement of an agreement between the government and Warrenville-based International is scheduled for Thursday in Chicago. Others will likely follow. One is expected to be with a car company, says a knowledgeable EPA official, who asked not to be named.

The agency’s hope is that the companies will take the technology “from the lab and put it in a truck,” the official adds.

Advance notices of the Thursday announcement say the EPA and International are forming a testing and development partnership.

This describes the highlights of the EPA’s approach to clean diesel. The basic approach is a series of design changes to the diesel engine, which reduce NO_x emissions in the engine combustion chamber without penalizing engine efficiency.

Key features:

• EPA Fuel System – Uses a hydraulically intensified fuel system to lower PM and smoke emissions, and to improve engine efficiency.

• Boost System – Increases the engine power and the efficiency of the combustion process, thus reducing emissions and increasing fuel economy.

• Low Pressure Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) – Lowers the peak combustion temperature to reduce the formation of NO_x.

• PM Aftertreatment – Reduces the remaining smoke, unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide in the exhaust to levels required for future emissions standards.