A new study released by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) provides important new insights on the advancements in clean diesel technology and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, according to Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

The peer-reviewed study entitled “HEI Research Report 166: Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES) Subchronic Exposure Results: Biological Responses in Rats and Mice and Assessment of Genotoxicity,” was conducted by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) in collaboration with the Coordinating Research Council.

The goal of ACES is to test the emissions and health effects of the new technology diesel engines to document the improvements that have been made and to ensure that there are no unintended emissions from this new technology.  The study evaluated impacts from exposure to diesel exhaust emissions on laboratory animals over various time intervals.

In their Commentary on the study the ACES Review Panel concluded: “Overall, these results showed few biologic effects related to diesel exhaust exposure.”

“As this new study illustrates, the 2007 compliant diesel technology provided historic improvements in reducing particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions,” Schaeffer said.

“And the 2010 and newer diesel technology is even cleaner with near zero emissions. In the past decade, emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses have been reduced by 99 percent for nitrogen oxides (NOx) – an ozone precursor – and 98 percent for particulate emissions which include black carbon,” Schaeffer said.

While this study is limited to highway diesel engines like those used in commercial trucks and buses, virtually the same technologies (cleaner diesel fuel and advanced engine and emissions controls) are being phased in for all non-road engines and equipment used in construction, agriculture, mining and other industries.

“Getting to these near-zero levels of emissions is a result of the highly integrated clean diesel system – cleaner ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, advanced engine technologies and emissions control systems,” Schaeffer said.  “Not only are the engines near zero emissions, they are also achieving important gains in fuel efficiency of anywhere from two to 10 percent, bringing valuable savings to owners and operators of new clean diesel engines.”

Schaeffer said the findings in the new HEI report coincide with the Environmental Protection Agency’s recently-released ”Report to Congress on Black Report”, which stated: ”The United States will achieve substantial (black carbon) emissions reductions by 2030, largely due to controls on new mobile diesel engines.  Diesel retrofit programs for in-use mobile sources are a valuable complement to new engine standards for reducing emissions.”

“Today, diesel engines are responsible for less than six percent of all particulate emissions in the U.S.,” Schaeffer said.  “As clean diesel technology continues to advance, these improvements will be even more significant.”

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The new Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV III) regulations officially adopted by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) on March 22, 2012 will establish the world’s most stringent tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions standards for new passenger vehicles.

With LEV III, California’s new light-duty vehicle tailpipe emission regulations are to be phased in during model years 2017-2025. In that time, all vehicles sold in California will have to meet Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) tailpipe standards.

“The fact that diesel technology is both proven and widely available today is also critical to making early progress toward California’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. Some of the other more exotic fuels and vehicle technologies, while promising, remain in the very earliest stage of development or at minimal market penetration levels.

These new clean diesels will now help in meeting California’s near-term and long-term environmental, energy and climate goals,” said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

“Just as Californians are experiencing some of the highest gasoline prices in the nation, with an average of$4.23 a gallon according to the Energy Information Administration, the interest in diesel cars is at its highest level ever,” Schaeffer said. “Last year, clean diesel car sales in the U.S. increased 27% and sales in 2012 are up more than 32%. The high fuel prices and stricter emissions regulations are playing a key role in the increases sales of clean diesel autos.”

Schaeffer cited several recent North American examples of the environmental advances in clean diesel technology and lower emissions. This included the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where the all new 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI clean diesel was voted the winner of the 2012 Earth, Wind & Power Car of the Year of the Most Earth Friendly Vehicle and the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel was named Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.

Several new clean diesel autos are to be introduced to U.S. market. Chrysler announced that it will be introducing a Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel in 2013 or 2014 while a diesel powered Porsche Cayenne would be coming to the U.S. in 2012. Mazda on the other hand will become the first Asian car manufacturer to sell diesel cars in the U.S. when it introduces its SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine.

“While most auto makers have clean diesel autos on the market in Europe, Asia and Australia, there are growing indications that even more diesels are on their way to the U.S. market,” Schaeffer said.

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