Officials at Jacobs Vehicle Systems have reviewed and support the recently proposed emission reduction strategies by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to further limit smog-forming nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions from diesel-powered heavy trucks. The projected emission rule will require that new trucks still using fossil fuels have the most effective emission-control technologies currently available.
Jacobs is a global manufacturer of diesel and natural gas retarding systems and valve actuation mechanisms. Jacobs is currently involved in numerous emission-reduction development and demonstration projects on commercial vehicle powertrains around the world.
“Jacobs has been working with our customers and industry partners for years to develop solutions to improve engine combustion and aftertreatment efficiency to be ready to respond to these new regulations,” said Steve Ernest, vice president of engineering and business development for Jacobs. “We have the technology to help engine and vehicle makers meet these new limits and improve fuel efficiency while doing it.”
“We can support meeting these new limits by providing flexibility to the valve train; one of the last ‘fixed’ parameters on current production engines,” said Robb Janak, director new technologies for Jacobs. “While clearly a standard test cycle will be key to measuring improvements, the new focus on in-use emissions is clearly targeted at making sure the tightened regulations are met on the road in real-world conditions.”
The CARB amendments, posted June 23 on the agency’s website, will be discussed at CARB’s August 27 public meeting, and in part include:
A proposal to reduce the current heavy truck NOx standard from 0.20 grams per brake horsepower hour to 0.050 g/bhp-hr from 2024 to 2026, and even lower to 0.020 g/bhp-hr in 2027.
A proposal to reduce heavy truck particulate matter emissions from its current emission standard of 0.01 g/bhp-hr to a standard of 0.005 for 2024 and subsequent model-year engines.
Recent tests have confirmed that Jacobs’ cylinder deactivation (CDA) engine systems can deliver better fuel economy while keeping diesel exhaust aftertreatment systems operating at optimal temperatures, the company says. This supports these proposed goals of reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) within the CARB HD Omnibus and the EPA Clean Trucks Initiative (CTI), along with lowering CO2 emissions sought by the EPA GHG Phase 2 requirements.
