Engineering news
A group of European automotive and emissions control associations have launched a campaign to promote clean diesel, with the Euro 6 emissions standards looming.
The campaign is a joint initiative of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the Association for Emissions Control by Catalyst (AECC), the European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs (CECRA) and the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA).
The purpose of the online campaign, which is outlined at www.cleandieseltech.eu, is to raise awareness to policy makers about the benefits of clean diesel. Clean diesel complies with Euro 6, which is amongst the strictest emissions legislations in the world. The legislation will mean that all new vehicles sold will need to meet emissions standards by 1 September 2015.
The associations believe that clean diesel is a new generation of diesel made up of three parts: cleaner diesel fuel, more advanced engines, and better emissions control technology.
According to the NGO Transport & Environment, the current average diesel car emits 10 times more nitrogen oxide than gasoline-fueled cars, and its diesel exhaust fumes cause health problems ranging from asthma to cancer. While petrol and diesel engines will continue to improve efficiency, diesel will continue to be important in meeting the European Union's 2021 CO2 fleet average targets and beyond.
The associations said that industry must continue its request to policy makers to help speed up fleet renewal to enable the introduction of the cleanest vehicles. “This is particularly important as new vehicles represent only a small fraction of the total current car fleet,” the website says.
They also believe that policy should be technology-neutral and results-oriented to ensure the uptake of the latest low-emission vehicles, which should be affordable to the consumer at large. Options also exist for retrofitting heavy-duty vehicles.
With policy makers' support, the industry will continue to work together to ensure clean diesel remains one of the key pillars in the portfolio of low CO2 technologies for delivering clean, economical and affordable transport for future generations, says the website.
The groups are calling for technology-neutral and results-oriented policy to ensure the uptake of the latest low-emission vehicles. With this support, they believe they will continue to work together to ensure that modern diesel remains one of the key pillars in the portfolio of low CO2 technologies for delivering clean and affordable transport for future generations.