EC-Diesel Technology Validation Program Interim Report

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">ARCO has developed diesel fuel called Emission Control Diesel (EC-D) that results in substantially lower exhaust emissions compared to a typical California diesel fuel. EC-D has ultra-low sulfur content, low aromatics, and has a high cetane number. EC-D is produced from typical crude oil using a conventional refining process.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Initial engine laboratory tests and vehicle tests indicated that EC-D reduced regulated emissions while maintaining fuel economy, compared to a typical California diesel fuel.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels such as EC-D may enable the widespread use of passive catalyzed particulate filters for both new and existing diesel engines. The use of catalyzed particulate filters could allow large reductions of particulate matter emitted from vehicles.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">A one-year technology validation program is being run to evaluate EC-D and catalyzed particulate filters using diesel vehicles operating in Southern California. The fuel's performance, impact on engine durability and vehicle performance, and emission characteristics are being evaluated in several fleets in various vocations. This interim report outlines the validation program and provides new results from vehicle emissions tests conducted to date. Based on these interim results, vehicles retrofitted with catalyzed particulate filters and fueled with EC-D emitted 91% to 99% less particulate matter compared to the CARB-fueled vehicles having no exhaust filter equipment.</div>