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]

Ford in the Netherlands has declared its campaign to retrofit older cars with DPFs (Diesel Particulate Filters) a success. More than 9,000 motorists chose to install the soot-reducing devices in their vehicles, and they got them almost for free: Ford reduced the price of the DPF so it would match the amount of the government's subsidy to install such devices in passenger cars. A similar promotion was held in Germany last September.

Retrofitting DPFs in your car is not an easy task to do (some would even say troublesome), but Ford reached a partnership with the Nederlandse Rijksdienst Wegverkeer (RDW) to officially approve the procedures. Starting January 1st, all diesel Fords sold in the Netherlands have a DPF installed as standard.

[Source: Ford Netherlands]