Euro 6 is now the standard
With France sounding the death knell, Ralitsa Peycheva looks at whether this is really the end for Diesel engines
The Euro 6 entered into force in September 2014 and hit the European automotive market – particularly diesel-oriented – stronger than most. According to the new regulations, the level of nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollutants and fine particulate matter should be significantly reduced, which requires all new vehicles sold in EU member states to follow most stringent rules on tailpipe emission. It is worth mentioning that diesel particulate filters and other after-treatment systems have been required in the U.S. since 2008. The final goal of Euro 6 is to make diesel cars as clean as gasoline ones. If a new vehicle doesn’t comply with the emission limits, it won’t be registered and sold.
Many countries such as France saw Euro 6 as an opportunity to cut down on old diesel vehicles, with around 70% of cars on French roads using diesel and most of them not meeting the current diesel emission restrictions. In order to limit city access for the dirtiest cars, the French government are launching a car identification system that will rank vehicles by the amount of pollution they emit this year. The government will also raise the TICPE excise tax on diesel by 2 euro cents per litre which won’t make diesel the “cheaper option”. By doing so the state hopes to push citizens towards more ecological choices.
What do the automakers say?
Significant automotive technology suppliers are not ready to give up on diesel and its undoubted advantages compared to gas. Key players such as Bosh, Delphi, Continental and others are still investing a lot in the development of better diesel engines. The diesel common rail direct injection system has been continuously improved and any possible common rail problems were reduced to the minimum for even better vehicle performance and long engine life. The problem is that many politicians and important social influencers don’t make any comparisons between old and new diesel technologies. The truth is that the diesel engine has gone a long way to overcome its pollutant level and no longer has anything in common with its dark, smoky predecessor.
NOx raw emissions of modern diesel engines are 96% lower than those of a typical diesel from 1990 and all leading companies have improved their diesel technologies in order to meet the Euro 6 requirements, saying that there won’t be any significant impact on the final price – for example BOSCH is introducing a sophisticated purification Denoxtronic Urea Dosing system and Renault has also launched an improved selective catalytic reduction technology which ensures a high level of performance, reliability and optimized consumption.
Why Diesel-powered cars can still be useful
Wouldn’t it be a pity to kill diesel off so soon after the invention of something as great as the diesel direct injection and turbocharging? And especially after so much pressure has been put on automotive suppliers from governments and society to produce lower NOx-emission diesel engines. Diesel technology is constantly being improved through catalytic converters, advanced filters and other exhaust after-treatment technologies that cut down or destroy toxic particulates, so shouldn’t we just believe in the improvement of diesel and its previous track record of advantages such as fuel efficiency, remarkable performance, power, long life, endurance and rigidity?
For some, diesel will always be a dirty word but the amount of progress that has been achieved in the development of new diesel technologies cannot be ignored. Important car equipment suppliers and their Research & Development offices continue developing and improving the diesel direct injection in terms of performance, harmful gas exhaust and efficiency and some big advances might come in the near future. There might be an additional cost passed on to the consumer and there might be further expenses to maintain all the filters, but for 30 minutes-or-more-trips, on roads or highways, diesel vehicles show more efficiency and resistance, remain less consuming than gas and the pleasure of driving a diesel-powered car is hard to deny.
Ralitsa Peycheva is a technical content writer, interested in forging and casting techniques, latest machinery and tools; curious about new manufacturing methods; respecting high-quality engineering; discovering, observing and admiring the additive manufacturing industry.
johnwhiskeyjack
( Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - 13:51 )
Actually, the change needs to made with the fuel, not the compression (diesel engine). If manufacturers moved to DME (dimethyl ether), compression engines would work even better, reducing CO2, eliminating particulates and SOx completely, while minimizing NOx. Keep the engine, change the fuel. That simple. Better yet, DME can be made many different ways, many bypassing the middle east.
Benjamin
( Wednesday, February 4, 2015 - 12:36 )
People can argue all they like about how “clean” diesel vehicles are but the facts are these.. 1) pollution monitors show that we continually exceed the safe, legal limits of pollutants primarily emitted from diesel exhaust. 2) lab tests by manufactures are not replicated in real world conditions. 3) DPF cleaners are only effective in certain driving conditions (not in urban areas where it’s most needed) 4) Some companies/drivers remove costly-to-clean DPF’s creating a death machine on wheels. 5) you simply cannot combust diesel without the by product of NO2 and PM or fully contain these pollutants from leaving the exhaust. Time to get rid and for people to wake up.
Andy
( Tuesday, February 3, 2015 - 13:57 )
There is no such thing as a clean diesel. They do meet the standards in laboratory conditions but in the real world they fail abysmally:
http://www.theicct.org/real-world-exhaust-emissions-modern-diesel-cars
They are inherently dirty and cost-effective technology does not exist to clean them up. The standards are a joke and the manufacturers have been conning us for years. The future for diesel is heavy haulage and agriculture. For everything else there will be PHEVs and BEVs.
Rudolf Huber
( Saturday, January 24, 2015 - 08:20 )
Diesel is really done. EURO6 shows us that it cannot be clean, no matter how much technology we throw at it. And the worst is that we have a replacement that works, is technologically mature, can be cheaper and is infinitely cleaner with methane. What the heck are we waiting for?
Read more on http://www.lng.guru
Jonathan Cowley
( Thursday, January 22, 2015 - 21:03 )
What’s the matter with these ignorant people….Diesel’s are the most efficient form of internal combustion. Back in the 70’s Diesel’s were 10% more efficient than petrol’s. Diesel running @ 34% and Petrol @ 24%.
The exhaust after treatment now practically eliminates the NOx. The main problem is a political one because due to the much increased fuel efficiency of the diesel the revenue are losing out as far less fuel is being used now, hence any government will and are taxing the diesel and if possible will try and eliminate them. Lets go for the petrol, uses a lot more fuel hence increased revenue for the HMRC coffers. Due to the combustion cycle and the burning of the diesel fuel, diesel’s will always be the most efficient form of internal combustion….so come on why curb them and tax them. Even these hybrids are a waste of time. Up the diesel…it will never be beaten.
Tim
( Wednesday, January 21, 2015 - 16:17 )
What is the evidence that “NOx raw emissions of modern diesel engines are 96% lower than those of a typical diesel from 1990” ?
I thought that the real-world emissions testing from Carslaw et al was showing that actual NO2 emissions from diesels had barely moved in the last twenty years despite the engines passing increasingly stringent standards in the manufacturer’s laboratories.
And is there any evidence yet that Euro 6 vehicles on the road are actually meeting the EU requirements. The little data I have heard about gave the impression that NO2 levels were often up to 5 times more than they should be.