SODERTALJE, Sweden, Sept. 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Cleaner combustion with EGR is Scania's way of complying with Euro 4 and Euro 5. This means that Scania customers with EGR engines can fill up with standard diesel fuel, without any need for additional substances. Fuel economy is as good as for Scania's well-known Euro 3 engines. Scania's first Euro 4 engines are already on the market.
At a press conference today in Hanover, Scania's top management presented the company's strategy for engine development and emission reduction during the next decade: Cleaner combustion combined with tried- and-proven technical solutions such as EGR to comply with both Euro 4 and Euro 5.
Scania's President and CEO Leif Ostling and Group Vice Presidents Gunnar Rustad, Sales and Services and Hasse Johansson, Research and Development, all emphasised the importance of Scania's new truck range and forthcoming engine developments both to the company and its demanding customers.
"Scania is the only heavy truck manufacturer that is already delivering trucks with Euro 4 engines to customers. Around 250 trucks with the new 420 hp engine are currently in operation on the market," said Gunnar Rustad.
"Scania's EGR system combines Euro 3 levels of fuel consumption with maximum convenience. Scania customers can thus fill up standard diesel, without any need to fill additional substances," said Hasse Johansson.
"Transport operators can rest assured that Scania will provide easy-to- handle solutions that maximise fuel efficiency and carrying capacity for Euro 4, Euro 5 and beyond. Scania's new Euro 4 engine is fuel-efficient, you can fill up with standard diesel everywhere - and you can do it now," summarised Leif Ostling.
First Euro 4 engine on the market -- September 2004 Scania's first engine certified for Euro 4 is already on the market. Based on EGR technology, it can run on standard diesel available everywhere -- and the resulting emissions are at Euro 4 level. No extra effort is needed -- no additives, no extra tank to fill up.
A combination of several in-house technologies enables Scania to provide this very convenient solution for its customers. Cooled EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) lowers the combustion temperature. This in turn reduces the formation of nitrogen oxides in the combustion chamber. High- pressure fuel injection (Scania HPI) is used to reduce particulates. Scania's turbocompounding system is used both to boost efficiency and to supply the right amount of EGR to the combustion chamber at all times.
This means that Scania achieves Euro 4 emission levels without any aftertreatment. Emissions are tackled at source, inside the combustion chamber.
A reduction of NOx in combustion normally has an adverse effect on fuel consumption. With this combination of Scania technologies, fuel economy remains at Euro 3 level, despite lower emissions. Overall operating cost remains the same, since no additives are required.
Full range of Euro 4 engines -- from autumn 2005 For the full range of inline engines, Scania will continue with EGR and high-pressure fuel injection. A maintenance-free oxidising catalyst integrated in the silencer will also be used. Turbocompounding will feature on some engines.
All these engines will run on standard diesel fuel. No matter where they fill up, emissions will be at Euro 4 level. Customers will be independent of the supply of additives. They will also be able to fit larger fuel tanks, since no extra tank for AdBlue is required.
To ensure adequate cooling reserves on the powerful V8 engines, Scania will use SCR (selective catalytic reduction) to achieve Euro 4. These vehicles can operate in areas where the infrastructure for AdBlue has been extended, or carry extra supplies on-board.
First Euro 5 engines -- from 2006 From 2006, Scania will offer three Euro 5 engines based on SCR technology, one output in each of its 5-, 6- and 8-cylinder ranges. These engines will enable operators to draw maximum benefit from the tax and road fee incentives expected to apply at that time.
Full range of Euro 5 engines Well ahead of legal requirements that apply from 2009, Scania will launch a full range of Euro 5 engines. For this step, Scania will revise its engine platform and introduce a new common-rail-based injection system (Scania XPI for extra high pressure injection). Scania XPI allows high-precision multistage control of the combustion process.
All of these Euro 5 engines, inline as well as V8, will have Scania XPI, EGR and oxidising catalysts.
Thanks to its superior fuel efficiency, the diesel engine remains the best alternative for heavy road transport for many years to come. With a combination of technologies, emissions will be reduced to a level where the main concern is the emissions of carbon dioxide. This also speaks in favour of the diesel engine. So does its flexibility in terms of fuel, where a mix of diesel and biofuels may be an attractive proposition, as well as synthetic diesel produced from natural gas or biowaste.
In the longer term, Scania is researching the HCCI (homogeneous charge compression ignition) engine, in which fuel and air are homogeneously mixed outside the combustion chamber, as in most of today's petrol engines. The mixture is ignited through compression as in a diesel. Scania is optimistic about its future as a source of power for heavy vehicles in a 10-15 year perspective.
Presentations available at www.scania.com, News Centre.
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