Italian company Pirelli is best known for making high performance tires, but now it is making efforts in emissions technology. The Italian government announced an agreement between the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and the City Council of Beijing, China. Pirelli will supply diesel particulate filter systems (DPF) to be installed on heavy duty vehicles (mainly buses, but also trucks and later snowploughs and tractors). The vehicles are used by the local public transportation company and the filters are able to eliminate 95 percent of particulate emissions. The first filter systems will be installed before the start of the Olympics, and the rest after the summer. Pirelli's technology can be retrofitted to most existing models. Pirelli has been offering the retrofit filter systems for sale in Europe since the beginning of 2008 in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain. The filters are currently made in Gorj, Romania, and will also be produced in a new plant in Russia.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Of the ridiculous number of vehicles currently on the road worldwide, the vast majority of them are not brand new models. Considering the fact that the biggest increases in fuel efficiency, safety and emissions have taken place in the last few years, the legacy vehicles still on the road are a big concern. While it is easy to suggest that we remove these vehicles and replace them with newer models, this is not always practical, so some are suggesting that these vehicles be equipped with retrofit technology in an effort to save fuel and reduce emissions. One such technology could be tire pressure monitoring, as under-inflated tires make a big dent in overall vehicle efficiency.

While the idea of adding technology to older cars may make sense, the realities of making the change are rather difficult. The European Commission's Directorate General Enterprise and Industry head Philippe Jean suggests that it is much easier to regulate new vehicles rather than old. What's more, all EU member states would need to agree on whatever regulations are suggested, which would likely prove rather difficult. In other words, don't hold your breath.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]

We have featured lots of electric car conversions here on AutoblogGreen but until now there hasn't been very much in the way of hybrid conversions. Connaught Engineering, devisors of the hot little Type D hybrid (which should begin series production later this year) have taken the technology from their car and tweaked it to be retro-fitted to existing vehicles. An interesting proposition indeed.

According to a press release (PDF) on their website, Tesco is going to give the Connaught HYBRID+ system a go, starting with seven diesel Ford Transits. Over a period of six months, the home delivery vans will be tested thoroughly and if the results are favorable it is expected that Tesco will hybridize their entire Transit stable. Duncan Vavangas of Tesco is quoted as saying that the company is dedicated to reducing their carbon output and "transport is a key area and in addition to supporting new vehicle technologies we are keen to embrace affordable retro fit systems that save fuel and reduce CO₂ emissions on our current fleet of home delivery vehicles." Tesco can back up their commitment to new energy-saving vehicle technology with evidence from their use of Modec all-electric trucks.

The Connaught Engineering HYBRID+ system avoids the use of heavy batteries and combines regenerative braking with super capacitors to reduce fuel use by 25 percent. The system will be on display at the Commercial Vehicle Show in the NEC in Birmingham, England from April 15-17.

[Source: Connaught Engineering / The Commercial Vehicle Show]

This is the strangest and most wonderful thing I have read today. The EPA and Scholastic released a special edition of the popular children's book series the Magic School bus, called "The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up." EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock recently read the book to school children in Cunningham Park Elementary School library in Vienna, Virginia. The students then went on Scholastic's traveling Magic School Bus, which includes interactive science experiments and a "new diesel particulate filter installed, courtesy of Caterpillar Inc." (pictures of the real Magic School Bus and particulate filter below the fold).

If that was not strange enough, the event also promotes the Clean School Bus USA program, which has cleaned up 2 million buses. "President Bush and EPA are making that black puff of diesel smoke from school buses something children only learn about in history class" said EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock. Leslye Schaefer. Scholastic Media Senior Vice President says, "Scholastic is thrilled to join the EPA in its effort to educate children and their families about clean air – and to make The Magic School Bus more environmentally friendly at the same time."

You can order the book for free by phone or e-mail from the EPA but supplies are limited because it's so popular! "Individuals, schools, and libraries may order up to 20 copies. Non-profit organizations working on diesel emissions issues and outreach may order up to 500. Other organizations, including for-profit companies, may order up to 100. Larger requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis." Even I want one! The idea that the EPA actually retrofitted a fictional, illustrated, cartoon school bus with pollution controls is just too funny.

I wonder if the EPA will get Ralph from the The Mouse and the Motorcycle an Enertia?

Related:

• "Daddy, read me a story" - the Doe's EV children's book

[Source: EPA]

Diesel Technology Forum has released a new PDF white paper designed to give diesel users a comprehensive overview of how diesel technology and regulations are changing to reduce diesel emissions. Covered are the new diesel emissions standards and the introduction of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD), as well as a number of techniques that can be used for upgrading existing diesel engines to reduce emissions.

Three interdependent components are discussed as the basis for a clean diesel system; the use of ULSD fuel which not only greatly reduces sulphur emissions but can also reduce particulate matter by up to 10 percent; new engine technology with redesigned combustion chambers, common rail fuel injection systems and variable geometry turbos that greatly reduces particulate matter and NOx emissions; and emissions control technologies including diesel oxidation catalysts, selective catalytic reduction devices, lean NOx catalysts, exhaust gas recirculation, and active diesel particulate filters. When combined, these three components usher in a new era of clean diesels which emit 98 percent less particulate matter and NOx in 2007 models than 1988 levels.

For existing diesel vehicle owners, the five Rs of retrofitting are also discussed; Rebuild core engine components every three to four years; Refuel using ULSD and/or biodiesel; Retrofit exhaust emissions control technologies; Repower older engines with new or newer diesel engines; and Replace entire old, heavily emitting vehicles and equipment with new models. Sections on Implementation Criteria for successful retrofitting projects, Incentives And Funding Resources, and Sample Retrofit Projects rounds out the paper.

Hopefully large diesel fleet owners will take heed of the advice offered in this white paper and look at implementing their own retrofitting projects to improve the emissions output of the dirtiest diesels on and off the road today.

Related:

• Biodiesel standard tests begin in Canada
• Onboard diagnostics promoted by EPA
• Is your diesel tank really getting ULSD fuel?

[Source: DieselNet]

Following EPA grants for retrofitting buses in Detroit and Fort Wayne, the Tuscola Intermediate School District in Caro, Michigan will receive $50,000 to retrofit their buses and buy biodiesel. Three nearby school districts (Cass City Public Schools, Cass City; Vassar Public Schools, Vassar; and Millington Community Schools, Millington) will also get to use some of the grant money for their own buses. A total of 75 buses will be affected, but only 24 will get diesel oxidation catalysts (the rest get biodiesel).

Like the Detroit and Fort Wayne grants, Tuscola is getting the money as part of the EPA's Clean School Bus USA program.

Related:

• All diesel school and transit buses in Massachusetts will be retrofitted
• EPA gives Midwest schools $145,000 for cleaner buses

[Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5]