After spending the last couple of years vehemently insisting it could meet US EPA ’10 emissions regulations without selective catalytic reduction (SCR), Navistar International in the US has finally conceded to adding “urea-based aftertreatment” to its trucks.
In sticking with its advanced EGR, the company was banking on heightened sales of its trucks due to US operators not accepting the new SCR systems offered by competitors. However, as it’s turned out there have been relatively few issues with SCR and most operators have made the transition with remarkable ease. Therefore, there’s no benefit for Navistar in continuing to push its EGR only barrow.
The new solution, which the company says will be available in early 2013, will be called ICT+ (in-cylinder technology plus) and will enable the engines to meet the stringent standard for NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions.
The formal announcement came after persistent rumours that the company would be switching to the technology path chosen by each of its competitors, all of which have argued from the beginning that Navistar could not meet the 2010 standards using EGR alone.
While not specifically mentioning the term SCR, Navistar International chairman Daniel C. Ustian said the new strategy is part of a concerted push “to get the product side back on track” to meet strategic goals and that the company “anticipates moving forward on development of its advanced EGR while adding the liquid-based technology to it.”
Ustian went on to declare the new solution has the full support of both the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) and will position the company to meet greenhouse gas rules in advance of 2014 and 2017 requirements.