Tests on a newer engine equipped with a high-efficiency diesel particulate filter (DPF) showed emissions reductions of 95%.

These tests demonstrate overwhelmingly that there is a cost-effective emission solution for some of the worst polluters on our roadways—the older school buses and local delivery trucks.

The tests showed that you don't need to buy new trucks to get the benefit of modern diesel emission technology. By retrofitting these vehicles with our fuel-borne catalyst, along with a combination of other devices, substantial reductions in toxic diesel emissions can be achieved. We can, of course, get even better results when our technology is designed into newer vehicles, but the pressing need is to improve emissions from the trucks and buses that are currently in use.

—Clean Diesel Technologies President James Valentine

Testing measured average particulate reductions of 20% for the FBC-treated ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel (ULSD) to as high as 71% for the FBC/ULSD fuel used with a catalyzed wire mesh filter (CWMF) and closed crankcase vent filter (CCVF).

A 50% reduction at a cost of less than $2,000 was achieved on the 1995 engine when the FBC-treated fuel was used in combination with a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and CCVF. That represents the lowest cost option commercially available for that level of reduction on that class of engine.

The closed crankcase vent filter is a way of capturing 100% of engine block emissions—typically representing 10% or more of total particulate emissions—that otherwise go untreated.

On pre-1994 engines, the FBC/DOC combination is verified for up to 50% reduction and the FBC/CWMF is verified for 75%, so combinations of those verified systems with the CCVF should give 60%–85% reduction, according to CDTI.

The fuel-borne catalyst—a bimetallic platinum/cerium additive—reduces engine-out emissions and allows more lightly catalyzed aftertreatment devices to be used.

CDT recently announced an agreement with the Fleetguard business unit of Cummins Inc. to blend and distribute the FBC under the Fleetguard name. Fleetguard and CDT have also tested a new on-board FBC dispensing system that will be replaced at normal maintenance intervals and is expected to be commercially available in early 2006. (Earlier post.)

CDT also recently announced other tests demonstrating that the platinum emissions from use of Platinum Plus do not pose an allergenic risk. (Earlier post.)