Detroit Diesel Reaches BlueTec SCR Testing Milestone

Detroit Diesel breaks seven million mile mark on validation testing



REDFORD, Mich. Detroit Diesel Corporation announced today that it has surpassed seven million miles of demonstrated testing on its BlueTec® Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. BlueTec SCR – Daimler’s widely acclaimed technology – was selected by Detroit Diesel in 2005 to meet the upcoming stringent EPA 2010 emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks. BlueTec SCR represents the world’s latest in clean diesel engine technology.



"We started our engineering development and validation activities several years ago to optimize BlueTec SCR for the 2010 North American market,” said David Siler, director of marketing, Detroit Diesel Corporation. “We are excited about how successful we’ve been in our validation program and we feel our customers will benefit from this positive experience.”



BlueTec SCR will incorporate enhanced performance of Detroit Diesel’s recently introduced DD15™ and DD13™ engines, the already proven ACRS™ common rail fuel system, a diesel particulate filter already in use today, as well as a new SCR NOx aftertreatment system that utilizes diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), commonly known as urea.



Detroit Diesel’s extensive validation testing isn’t complete. Its reliability test vehicle fleet is expanding monthly and will continue to log millions of miles prior to production launch in January 2010. Detroit Diesel has also conducted several rounds of vehicle validation testing under extreme operating and environmental conditions that may be experienced by the end-user, such as below-zero winter conditions in northern climates, as well as temperatures above 120 degrees in the desert regions of Arizona, Nevada and California.



"We have leveraged our relationship with Daimler Truck North America by jointly conducting our design, packaging and validation testing activities," said Rakesh Aneja, Detroit Diesel’s 2010 program manager. "This ensures that the vehicle is optimized as an integrated system with respect to lifecycle cost including fuel economy, durability and reliability."



A Global Initiative

BlueTec SCR symbolizes Daimler’s commitment to meet today’s environmental challenges, while also offering exemplary performance and fuel economy.



Since adapting the technology in early 2005, Daimler has delivered more than 200,000 trucks and buses around the world utilizing BlueTec SCR. Daimler’s knowledge of SCR is based upon its experience with a wide variety of truck and engine ratings, applications and domicile markets. Daimler can truly be considered a pioneer in the advancement of SCR worldwide. While European emissions regulations are generally less stringent than EPA levels, we’re seeing the European market adopt SCR technology as the overwhelming choice because of the improvement in fuel economy and resale values for SCR vehicles.



"We’re slowly seeing the rest of the North American truck and engine market begin to understand the same benefits we saw several years ago as they reverse course in favor of SCR technology to competitively meet the EPA 2010 emissions targets," said Siler. "It was only a matter of time before customers would demand not only improved fuel economy, but also clean emissions. In fact, nearly 100 percent of all big bore engines in production today for the U.S. and Canada that will be manufactured after Jan. 1, 2010, will utilize SCR technology."



Daimler’s BlueTec System is modular and will be adaptable for use in vocational applications, buses and RVs, as well as hybrids and biodiesel powered trucks. .



Detroit Diesel Corporation is a leading manufacturer of on-highway diesel engines for the commercial truck market. Headquartered in Redford, Mich., Detroit Diesel Corporation is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and service of these products, in addition to supporting alternative and hybrid engine strategies for the commercial truck marketplace. Detroit Diesel Corporation is a Daimler company.