Japanese Emission-Control Technologies Being Fine-Tuned for 2005 Standards
OKYO — Several Japanese truck makers used the venue of the 38th Tokyo Motor Show here Nov. 2-5 to showcase emission-control systems they will use to meet the next round of heavy-duty diesel-engine emission standards, which are set to take effect next October.
The October 2005 long-term emission standards will require Japanese heavy trucks — 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and heavier — to emit no more than 1.49 grams per brake horsepower hour of nitrogen oxides and non-methane hydrocarbons and 0.020 grams of particulate matter.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s current standards set heavy-duty diesel-exhaust emission levels at 2.5 grams of NOx and 0.099 grams of particulate matter — or soot. In January 2007 the U.S. levels are to drop to 0.199 grams for NOx and 0.009 grams for soot, both lower than the 2005 Japanese standards.