Green
Diesel Technology® School Buses are Ready for the Future The modern
yellow school bus powered by today’s diesel engine is the
right choice for student transportation — and it will continue
to be as federal clean-air rules tighten. Green Diesel
Technology® school buses are setting the pace for diesel school
buses that will meet the new federal requirements. Using the
breakthrough advantages of advanced engine technology, particulate
filters and ultra-low-sulfur (no more than 15 ppm sulfur content)
diesel fuel, the Green Diesel Technology® school bus has gained
certification for its clean air performance, meeting the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s 2007 standards for particulates
and hydrocarbons. And even more improvement is on the way. The
tables at left show the startling progress of diesel vehicles
in cleaning up soot and nitrogen oxides. Inside, you’ll
find answers to questions school officials, customers and others
have asked about the new federal rules and today’s clean
diesel — and learn why our buses can be driven with confidence.
You can rest
assured all federal guidelines will be met — and that we’ll
continue to provide you with school buses that provide the best
in safe, reliable pupil transportation.
The
Diesel Advantage
Q. What will 2007 federal diesel rules require? A.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s rules for heavy-duty
engines mandate a 90 percent reduction in particulate matter (PM)
emissions from today’s standards, and a 95 percent reduction
in nitrogen oxides (NOx). The guidelines also require reductions
in emissions of hydrocarbons (HC). While NOx standards and HC standards will he phased in between 2007 and 2010, the PM reduction requirements must be met in full by 2007. To support these emission reductions, the EPA requires wide availability of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel beginning in 2006. Q. Can older vehicles be retrofitted to meet new requirements? A. Yes. It is feasible to retrofit recent model diesel vehicles with filters to reduce PM. Factors that affect retrofitting include geographic location, duty cycle and engine type. International is examining the best way to provide retrofit options to its customers. Q. Must any EPA requirements be met before 2007? A. Yes. Federal rules require manufacturers to produce engines that achieve a 2.5 grams/brake-horsepower-hour standard for nitrogen oxide and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions by 2004. Because of consent decrees with the government, some manufacturers must begin to meet this emission standard by October 2002. International has a very different agreement with the government, and its engines are not required to meet this standard until the rule becomes effective in 2004. Q. What about fire and safety hazards associated with diesel fuel? A. Diesel has the clear advantage. Compared to gasoline or natural gas, diesel fuel is safe, stable and easy to use, and requires no special handling or storage. Since natural gas is highly flammable, the possibility of fires and explosions is always present, so it must be stored and handled extremely carefully. Q. How does International Truck and Engine Corporation set the pace in meeting emission standards? A. International partners with customers, regulators and others at many levels, national and state, to develop realistic clean-air solutions. In 2001, we were the first engine manufacturer to receive certification from the EPA as well as from the California Air Resources Board for the engine performance now achieved in our new smokeless, odorless Green Diesel Technology‚ school bus, which meets the 2007 requirements for both PM and hydrocarbons. Q. What about diesel exhaust and health effects? A. No scientific study demonstrates a causal link between diesel emissions and health effects in humans. One set of studies, involving coal miners, focused on diesel as the primary particle source to which individuals were exposed; it found no adverse health effects. Q. What can be done to reassure customers about diesel and health effects? A. Sound science is needed to make rational judgments. International is a leading supporter of scientific research, working with U.S. EPA, the Health Effects Institute and others. (See Diesel Studies: Just the Facts.) Customers
should know the following facts:
Diesel:
An Environmental Investment Diesel is
one of the most affordable fuel choices available. Conservatively,
diesel-powered school buses provide 25 to 30 percent better mileage
than comparable natural gas buses. In addition, the actual cost
of diesel fuel is less than some other fuels, such as natural
gas, and is cheaper and easier to store. These savings translate into real benefits for the environment. In fact, a staff report released by the California Air Resources Board found that $30 million invested in new Green Diesel Technology® school buses would ultimately result in 172 more tons of reductions in NOx emissions than would occur if the $30 million were spent on natural gas buses. Natural
Gas Exhaust May be More Toxic Than Diesel, According to New Research New research
by California government regulators indicates that low-emitting
diesel vehicles may have significant environmental advantages
over comparable natural gas vehicles. The study conducted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) produced the following findings:
These new
findings are supported by other comparative studies of clean diesel
and natural gas, including a comprehensive study conducted by
Ecotraffic of Sweden, which found that diesel vehicles have lower
greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas, thanks to diesel’s
superior fuel efficiency. Similarly, a fuel comparison study conducted
by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis in January 2000 noted
that "the use of natural gas as a motor vehicle fuel may
exacerbate the greenhouse gas effect because methane will escape
into the atmosphere during refueling operations and at natural
gas storage facilities." The Harvard study also noted that
methane is approximately 20 times more potent as a greenhouse
gas than carbon dioxide. "The
California Air Resources Board study reinforces the concept that
transportation regulatory decisions must be fuel neutral,"
said Dr. William B. Bunn, Vice President, health, safety and productivity,
International Truck and Engine Corporation. "Public policies
that in any way favor natural gas over diesel should be reconsidered
pending peer review of the data in this new study, as well as
other research now available." Dr. Bunn
commended the California board for undertaking this study and
for decisions made by the board in 2001 that recognized the low-emission
performance of new diesel engines with advanced aftertreatment
technology, using ultra-low-sulfur (below 15 parts per million
sulfur content) diesel fuel, now available from BP and other refiners.
The performance of a Green Diesel Technology® school bus was
certified by both the California ARB and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency as meeting particulate and hydrocarbon standards
that will be required in 2007 rules in California and nationally.
IC Corporation, the nation’s largest integrated school bus manufacturer, is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Truck and Engine Corporation. International produces school bus chassis, mid-range diesel engines, medium trucks, heavy trucks, severe service vehicles, and is a provider of parts and service sold under the International® brand. Both IC and International are subsidiaries of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV). Additional information can be found on the company’s web site at www.internationaldelivers.com.
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