Cummins says it has worked proactively on the regulation with a wide range of stakeholders over the past several years. It says it already is developing the clean and efficient technology that will be needed to comply.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed this regulation last October after President Barack Obama directed the agencies to coordinate efforts and propose a single national GHG reduction and fuel-efficiency program. The agencies led an open process, and Cummins collaborated with other engine and vehicle manufacturers, technology suppliers, fleets and environmental organizations to provide input. The result is a workable regulatory structure that accommodates the diverse needs of the commercial vehicle sector, the company believes.
“Environmental regulations can often be difficult for industry, adding cost and complexity. So early on, Cummins set out with the goal of helping the government establish a clear, consistent, challenging and enforceable regulation that recognizes the needs of business and provides incentives to companies that create innovative technologies as well as jobs in this country,” says Rich Freeland, Cummins vice president and president of engine business. “This regulation will add real value for our customers as better fuel economy lowers their operating costs while significantly benefitting the environment.”
Cummins claims it continues to develop technologies that meet stringent criteria emissions (such as those for oxides of nitrogen, or NOx), as well as improve the efficiency of its engines. Last year, the company was awarded nearly $54 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support systems-level technology development, integration and demonstration for highly efficient advanced-technology powertrains.
The rule finalized Aug. 9, 2011 by the EPA and the DOT establishes equivalent CO2 and fuel-efficiency standards for engines in 2014 and 2017.
Cummins’ lineup of North American on-highway engines, from the ISB6.7 to the ISX15, will be certified to meet new onboard diagnostic (OBD) requirements on Jan. 1, 2013, the company says. To provide a single product launch and multiyear stability for customers, these products also will comply with the GHG and fuel-efficiency regulations.
“The emissions technologies in use today provide the foundation for meeting the 2014 standards, and Cummins is ready to meet this regulation in 2013,” says Dr. Steve Charlton, Cummins vice president and chief technical officer of engine business. “Certifying our engines early will deliver additional fuel economy benefits to end-user customers and provide installation stability to our OEM customers. Continuing the use of our existing architecture means that customers can also expect improved reliability. This is simply part of the march down a path that we outlined several years ago to deliver increasingly clean, efficient and reliable products to our customers.”
