Volvo’s powertrain manager has called for a clearer regulatory framework applying to diesel engines globally so that their development and associated environmental benefits are not retarded.
“To reach the high environmental potential of the diesel engine, and have the maximum environmental benefits of investments, the industry needs clearer and earlier regulations from legal authorities involved, ” Lars-Gran Moberg, head of Volvo Powertrain Corporation, said Tuesday in a key note speech at the World Fuel Conference in Brussels.
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In his speech Moberg stressed that the commercial automotive industry will do its part of the work in order to meet the different emission standards regulated, and to reduce the road transport emissions to a sustainable level.
“This effort will — and is already today — putting high pressure on the industry’s engine emission development capacity. Due to extremely demanding emission regulations that in some cases are both late and unclear, the technological challenges for the industry is now reaching the technical and economical limits.
“There is always a risk that too short lead times can force immature technical solutions to the market. We have that unclear situation currently on the EU Directive for Euro 4. Added to that we see an escalating restructuring of the industry,” Moberg said.
“At the end of this decade the automotive industry will have the technologies to reach sustainable levels of regulated engine emissions. In reality that means lower emissions only in the markets where prerequisited fuel is available and legal authorities give emission standards to guarantee a fair competition on the market.
“To reach the high environmental potential of the diesel engine process and to have the maximum environmental benefits of investments made on regulated emissions, the industry also need a global harmonisation on fuel quality and global availability of high fuel quality. The Volvo Group is ready and will further more take an active part in this process.”
