The high-torque diesel engine remains a reliable and fuel-efficient way to power tractor-trailers and transport the country’s goods and materials. These engines deliver proven benefits, and their use eliminates the need to leverage an increased number of smaller delivery vehicles.
Even though heavy-duty trucks help limit the amount of carbon emissions that would otherwise impact the environment, technological advancements are making tractor-trailers even more green-friendly. The rollout of diesel retrofit emissions control technology has substantially lowered harmful elements. And, a newly-minted device created by the American company, Remora, reportedly captures upwards of 80 percent of carbon dioxide emissions released by big rigs.
Retrofitting Made Huge Environmental Strides
The leading device used in retrofitting is called a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). It has been widely adopted throughout the world to reduce emissions from both on- and off-road heavy-duty trucks. It reportedly minimizes a wide range of emissions that can negatively impact human health and the environment at large.
During the last three decades, more than 250,000 DOCs have been installed in aging off-road trucks and 500,000 on-road vehicles in other countries. The U.S. heavy-truck sector saw more than 1.5 million installations since 1994. These catalysts can be leveraged to reduce emissions in engines using diesel, biodiesel, and ethanol-blended fuels. Trapping potentially harmful emissions has made the trucking industry cleaner and greener than ever before. But thought leaders have not stood still, and newly-crafted innovations could, yet again, reduce emissions.
Greenhouse Gas Solutions
The recent Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge shined a spotlight on the U.S.-based Remora organization. Named a winner in the innovation competition, Remora put forward a potentially game-changing emissions device.
Its invention leveraged next-generation technology to deploy a completely mobile device designed to reduce emissions on semis. Unlike the sometimes labor-intensive and expensive retrofitting process, Remora’s device simply slips over the tailpipe. According to reports, the device effectively captures upwards of 80 percent of potentially harmful emissions that previously bled into the environment. Trucking industry leaders appear to be champing at the bit to find solutions as government regulations require lower emissions from the freight-hauling sector.
“Everyone is trying to figure out how we comply with that. There’s a lot of talk about producing vehicles. But the actual production and delivery of vehicles is a different thing,” Karen Jones, executive vice president at Ryder, reportedly said. “While I call Remora a little bit of a bridge to EV, it actually is more than a bridge.”
Ryder joins the likes of Werner Enterprises, NFI Industries, ArcBest Corp., and Cargill Inc, who are all planning to test the emissions-reducing device. Although there appear to be challenges that include accounting for the weight and storage of captured emission, Remora anticipates that employing its technology will result in a net gain in terms of annual profits.
As research highlights the health and environmental need to reduce emissions and usher in green-friendly practices, the trucking industry has remained open arms to solutions. Innovators such as Remora continue to proactively use technology for a better community as truck drivers maintain our vital supply chains.
Erich Whaples says
if works like the def, which everyone knows is bs, you can keep it
Joe Mcfly says
Of course all the big fleets are pushing for it , they will want it to be mandated too so it’s just another thing that makes it harder for us little guys to compete
Kris says
I hear this stories so often and it turns to be crap. I dont trust new trucks still patching my 2005 volvo with cummins eng. Milage? 3045000km. Yes there was no mistake. No engine rebuild yet. Not too many heavy loads oil changed 25000km strickly. And is fine.