NEW DPF Installation Photos

Ask and You Shall Receive--you asked for more real life photos of the Econix DPF-A (diesel particulate filter) installed on actual vehicles.  Well, today is your lucky day!  We've just uploaded a bunch of new photos of the Econix DPF-A installed on a variety of vehicles.  Hope you enjoy! 

Have suggestions for other things you'd like to see?  Let us know, leave a comment below...

Fleet owners getting clear on new CARB credits with online tool from Boshart and Econix

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fleet owners getting clear on new CARB credits with online tool from Boshart and Econix

Ontario, California (January 27, 2011) – California diesel fleet owners have a new tool to decipher new credit amendments to the On-Road Truck and Bus Regulation and potentially cut their retrofit costs in half.

Boshart Engineering, Inc. (BE), the North American distributor of Econix diesel emissions products, released its online “2-for-1 Eligibility Tool” on Friday, making it easy for fleet owners to see if they are eligible for a new retrofit credit under the regulation.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced the amendments earlier this month, partly to relieve recession-affected diesel truck fleets suffering from high compliance costs.

But the qualifications for receiving the credits are complex and can require knowledgeable calculation, says Ken Boshart, President of Boshart Engineering, Inc.

“We’ve been seeing lots confusion out there,” says Boshart. “What better way to serve our fleet owners than to provide a tool that can give them a clear answer about how they can benefit from this new credit.”

Fleets can save up to 50% on compliance costs

The free online tool from Boshart and Econix tells fleet owners if they are eligible for the “2-for-1 credit,” which allows fleets to save up to 50% on the cost of retrofitting two vehicles or more, but only if they also meet very specific requirements.

Since CARB’s 2-for-1 credit can provide financial relief for hundreds fleets, it is important to understand all the details of the amendment. For example, if one DPF is installed, the fleet will receive credit for the retrofitted truck and a second retrofit credit that can be applied to another qualifying vehicle without having to buy a second DPF.

Fleet owners should understand all the details

Fleet owners must order and pay for their DPFs by May 1, 2011 in order to take advantage of the credit. Specific restrictions apply: quickly approaching deadlines for purchase and installation, size of fleet, reporting, vehicle specs, vehicle weight and more.

Boshart Engineering, the North American distributor of the Econix DPF-A, has provided CARB compliance services for over a decade, making the 2-for-1 Eligibility Tool a logical extension of its business.

The free 2-for-1 Eligibility Tool can be found online at www.econixusa.com/2for1. Fleet owners use this tool to enter all of their fleet/vehicle information and Econix representatives work with them to quickly and easily help determine their eligibility.

Boshart Engineering recommends fleet owners check their eligibility first before making any purchasing decisions based on the 2-for-1 DPF retrofit credit.

Boshart Engineering is the North American distributor of Econix diesel emission products and is also a provider of automotive compliance and testing services since 1999.

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To receive more information on the regulation, 2-for-1 credit or the 2-for-1 Eligibility Tool, contact Econix & Boshart Engineering representatives Glenda Chavez or Jason Rain at 1-877-432-6649 x. 1. More information is also available on the Econix website: www.econixusa.com and www.econixusa.com/2for1

CARB Announces Changes to the On Road Truck & Bus Regulation

Amidst economic hardship the California Air Resources Board (CARB/ARB) staff met several times during the last quarter of 2010 to determine a new strategy for the Truck & Bus Regulation.  Several important changes have been made to the regulation.  As with many CARB regulatory documents, they can be long and sometimes hard to understand.  Below we have highlighted a few of the changes.  However, it is important to check with CARB or one of our specialists so you will have a full understanding of the changes and how they may affect you.

A few key points:

• This regulation applies to vehicles with  a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of over 14,000 pounds.  It applies to private and federally owned trucks as well as private and public buses.
• Lighter vehicles (14,000-26,000 lbs.) first compliance requirements will be in 2015.
• Heavier vehicles (26,001 lbs & up) first compliance date will be Jan.1, 2012.
• Several credits/exemptions exist, such as a 2-for-1 dpf retrofit credit, early purchase of cleaner engines, addition of hybrids or electric vehicles and reduction of fleet size.

For a full summary of the changes, visit:  http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/documents/FSRegSum.pdf on the CARB website.

New Funding for Retrofit Projects - Apply for $32 million in Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) nationwide for projects that achieve a significant reduction in diesel emissions.  Specifically, the EPA is looking for proposals to reduce pollution caused by diesel emissions exposure in poor air quality areas.

Eligibile solutions include:

• verified emission control technologies (will fund up to 100%) such as:

              - retrofit devices
              - cleaner fuels,

• engine upgrades (will fund up to 75%)
• verified/certified cleaner fuel use (will fund cost differential between eligible cleaner fuels & conventional diesel)
• verified idle reduction technologies (will fund up to 50 to 100% of cost, depending on technologies chosen)
• and more (read full RFP details)

Eligible vehicles include:

• buses,
• medium to heavy-duty trucks,
• marine engines,
• locomotives and non-road engines, 
• construction vehicles, 
• cargo vehicles, 
• agriculture and more...

Eligible Entities:

• regional, state, local or tribal agencies or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality
• nonprofit organizations or institutions that "a) represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets or b) have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality."

Important Dates:
Nov. 2, 2010     RFP Opens
Jan 13, 2011      RFP Closes - Proposals Due
March 2011       Anticipated Notification of Selection
May 2011          Anticipated Award

For full details visit:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgnational.htm 
and http://www.epa.gov/air/grants/rfp-epa-oar-otaq-11-01.pdf

What do you think? Proposed National Program on Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Fuel Economy Standards for Commercial Trucks

In May of this year, President Obama catalyzed a new proposal to reduce greenhouse gases and increase fuel efficiency standards for medium to heavy-duty trucks.  Taking the lead, the National Highway National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have proposed the first national regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy in the commercial vehicle segment.

"...by setting a single standard in place, rather than a tangle of overlapping and uncertain rules, auto companies will have the clear incentive to develop more efficient vehicles.." -President Obama, May 21, 2010, Remarks by the President at Signing of Presidential Memorandum on Fuel Efficiency Standards

 A wide variety of medium and heavy-duty trucks will be subject to this proposed rule, from fire trucks to cement mixers.  Each segment will be organized by vehicle weight categories.

Factors the new proposal most important to manufacturers:

• National program - uniform standards 
• Plenty of lead time - given the size of the market and varied vehicles, ample time will be allotted for comopliance
• Safety considerations - testing of varying solutions will be important
• Continuity in standards from both agencies -- EPA and NHTSA working together
• Market compatibility - solutions that accommodate the unique needs of each vehicle market must be considered

For more detailed information on this proposal visit the following sites:

• Diesel Forum: Fact Sheet
• Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for New Medium and Heavy Duty Fuel Efficiency Improvement Program
• Remarks by the President at Signing of Presidential Memorandum on Fuel Efficiency Standards
• Congressional Briefing: Economic Growth, Green Jobs, Clean Trucks

What do you think about this new regulation?  Please leave your comments below.

How a DPF Works

A Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) or "trap," as they are often called, exists to do one thing: remove the harmful particulate or soot that is created by a diesel engine. Soot is a normal byproduct of internal combustion engines and is essentially fuel that has not combusted. Soot is more prevalent in diesel engines, because of the way fuel is injected and burned.  A DPF is positioned after the engine and before the tailpipe in the line of the exhaust. It captures the soot in a "substrate" or material matrix before it leaves the tailpipe. The material matrix that traps the soot is often ceramic, but in the case of the Econix DPF-A, it is a metal mesh, lending more flexibility and durability. Like most filters, DPFs accumulate the matter they are collecting and must be cleared from time to time.  This clearing (or burning off) of particulate matter in a DPF is called regeneration.

Regeneration happens differently depending on whether you are using passive or active technology. If the DPF is passive, the regeneration process will happen automatically during periods of high engine temperature, such as during long-haul highway driving or heavy-load hauling. This method does not burn fuel, but it is dependent on an engine maintaining high temperatures for a prescribed amount of time. If a particular engine is fitted with passive technology, and does not maintain the target temperature for the recommended amount of time, there is a high risk of having the DPF clog and cause back-pressure issues and even serious engine problems. In an active DPF system, like the Econix DPF-A, sensors measure the back-pressure. These back-pressure sensors tell the Electronic Control Unit computer (ECU) how much soot has built up in the filter. Active systems generally alert the operator when the filter is full and it is time for regeneration. As soon as the operator has been alerted that the filter is full, the regeneration process should be initiated in a way that is consistent with the manufacturer's instructions. For many active DPFs, and also our Econix DPF-A, fuel is injected into the filter and a burner is ignited. The resulting combustion increases the temperature in the filter and cooks off the accumulated soot, reducing it to gas instead of harmful particulate.

When the regeneration process is finished, the operator is alerted by the ECU and the truck can resume its normal operating procedure. The Econix DPF-A takes 10 minutes or less to complete its regeneration cycle. The number of active regeneration cycles your truck will need to perform is dependant on how it's being used, and the opacity (sootiness), of the exhaust. Trucks that produce more soot may have to be regenerated more often. This is a great reason to make sure your truck(s) is tuned up and in good running condition! For a video specific to Econix DPF-A, and its 10 minute regeneration process, visit our home page and click play!

Polluted Air linked to Diabetes

Here's yet another good reason to reduce emissions.  According to a study by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston, a strong link exists between adult diabetes and air pollution.  The study builds upon previously established ties between air pollution and insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.

According to the study, for every 10 micro-grams per cubic meter of particulate matter (PM) they found a 1% increase in diabetes rates.

To read the NY Times full article click here:  "Diabetes Linked to Air Pollution"