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EPA to Collaborate on Research to Reduce Emissions from Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles

Release Date: 02/21/2004
Contact Information: Laura Niles, (404) 562-8353, [email protected]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 announced today that research is underway in a collaborative effort to reduce emissions from Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles (HDDVs). EPA will benefit from high interest by other Georgia organizations in reducing emissions from HDDVs by partnering with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (Georgia EPD), the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) under the EPA Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) grant. This project is a cooperative effort between EPA Region 4's Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division and EPA's Office of Research and Development. HDDV engine emissions are not as strictly controlledas light duty gasoline engines, and they produce large amounts of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) and are kept in service for longer periods of time than light duty vehicles. Diesel emissions are classified as the largest source of mobile source air toxics. Research indicates that control of NOx in the Southeast is necessary if national ozone standards are to be met, but little research has been conducted into the study of the emission characteristics of HDDVs. Data is needed for informed decisions to be made and for the most cost effective control strategies to be developed, including the potential for a HDDV Inspection/Maintenance program, HDDV retrofits and special fuel formulations to reduce emissions. EPA proposed the research effort between the Georgia EPD, GRTA and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech has one of only a limited number of emission laboratories for HDDVs, which is capable of evaluating emissions from large trucks. The Mobile Assessment System for Urban and Regional Evaluation (MEASURE) model, developed by Georgia Tech, will help the Georgia EPD to develop effective emission control strategies for heavy duty diesels. The data from Georgia Tech's research can also be compounded with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority's (GRTA) study on heavy duty diesels.