Navistar adopting urea-SCR technology

6 July 2012

Navistar International Corporation today announced that it will introduce urea-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to meet US EPA 2010 emission regulations for heavy-duty engines and position the company to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) rules in advance of 2014 and 2017 requirements. Engines featuring the new technology—branded “In-Cylinder Technology Plus” (ICT+)—are expected to be available beginning early 2013.

Navistar intends to continue to build and ship current model EPA-compliant trucks in all vehicle classes using combinations of emission credits and/or non-compliance penalties (NCPs) during the transition to ICT+, said the company.

“We've shared our new technology path with the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB), and both agencies are encouraged by our plans,” said Daniel Ustian, Navistar chairman. “We will continue to work with the agencies to ensure that our customers receive uninterrupted deliveries in all 50 states during this transition.”

Navistar was the only US manufacturer who chose not to use SCR aftertreatment in US 2010 heavy-duty engines. Most Navistar engines have been certified to NOx emission levels of 0.4-0.5 g/bhp-hr, with the difference from the 0.2 g NOx standard covered by emission credits. Navistar has never certified an engine to the 0.2 g NOx standard. While achieving 0.2 g NOx emissions may be technically possible, it would result in a fuel economy disadvantage compared to SCR engines.

As Navistar’s emission credits were running out, the EPA established the NCP program, under which Navistar could sell nonconforming engines upon a payment of a penalty. The NCP program, challenged by the competing engine manufacturers, was recently vacated by a court.

Source: Navistar