London’s Low Emission Zone Catching On

The London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) began in February 2008 with phase one coming into effect, this was for standard Euro 3 for particulate matters, with lorries between 3.5 and 12 tonnes, buses and coaches having to comply.  Phase two is due to follow in October 2010 with larger vans and minibuses coming in under the same controls and from January 2012 Euro 4 for PM comes into effect.

With the scheme proving a success other local authorities are now considering following suit.  Norwich has already implemented a similar venture with buses and coaches however because of the success of London’s scheme they are considering extending it to trucks as well. 

Others areas looking into the possibility of introducing schemes are Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Cambridge, Leeds, Derby, Oxford, Bristol and Glasgow.

As the scheme potentially widens some people are voicing their concerns over the cost implications forced upon hauliers who have to buy costly retrofit devices to comply.  For more information visit www.lowemissionzones.eu where you can find which areas/cities are currently running such schemes and guides to having cleaner engines.

Yara increases storage capacity at their Sluiskil depot

In a move that will establish them more in the industry Yara have increased the storage capacity at their Dutch production plant from 5 million to 7 million litres. 

Air1 AdBlue is already known as the best brand available and is renowned for its quality, this increase in capacity will secure this position as the demand for AdBlue continues to grow.

Air1 Sales Manager (BeNeLux) Caroline de Jonge quotes:

“The market faced tremendous development over the last few years and nobody knew which position the product AdBlue would achieve.  SCR technology has been established as standard equipment in transport vehicles over the last 2 years and now it is difficult to imagine a transport sector without AdBlue.  As such, limited supply and availability has become extremely important.  The entire Air1 team from production through to sales has this in mind.”

“The takeover of Dureal and the price fluctuations on the market have been difficult over recent months.  With good support, communication, understanding and “goodwill” of our customers we succeeded in managing as a team.”

“I have full confidence in our motivated team to continue our good service and with the increase in storage capacity, we are well prepared for the further growth of the AdBlue market.”

AdBlue and SCR come of age

SCR technology which relies on Adblue to cleanse harmful exhaust gas emissions is now the clear system of choice for trucks and buses, according to leading AdBlue supplier GreenChem.

Speaking on the eve of the important IAA Commercial Vehicle Exhibition in Hanover today, GreenChem Founder and Managing Director Teun de Bruijn said: “In the face of dramatically increasing fuel prices, consumption tests at Euro 5 which demonstrate SCR’s superiority over the rival EGR system and Cummins’ decision to opt for SCR in the US market because of fuel consumption and cost concerns, mean that SCR is firmly established and here to stay”.

He added: “Now even the car makers are incorporating SCR into their future engine strategies because of the need to achieve lower emissions limits but not increase fuel consumption in the process”.

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2008 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show - Hannover

Now that the 2008 IAA Commercial Vehicle show has drawn to an end the attendance figures themselves indicate the huge success. 

With almost 300,000 visitors from 110 countries and over 2000 exhibitors the show exceeded all previous years records.

To find out more visit: www.iaa.de

America ramp up AdBlue availability

Pilot Travel Centers, the largest garage forecourt in the US, are the first to announce Stateside that they will be carrying AdBlue “at the pump” for SCR equipped trucks.

The company plan to have AdBlue readily available on the forecourt, at more than 100 of their outlets by mid to end of 2009.  In addition to the “at the pump” availability the outlets will also carry pre-packaged quantities of AdBlue.

They hope this will maximize affordability and convenience for truckers meeting 2010 emissions standards.  Almost all of new heavy-duty vehicles in production today are being equipped with SCR technology to comply with future standards.

SCR Technology

Reports show that diesel vehicles account for more than 40% of new vehicles in Europe today, they also show that vehicles’ being equipped with SCR technology is growing at an incredible pace – latest figures indicate by an average of 25,000 per month.
In just two short years between 2006 and 2008, the industry grew from 30,000 vehicles to more than 500,000 heavy duty SCR equipped trucks.  This rate is continuing to climb as more and more companies can see the benefits and are upgrading their fleets.
According to data from Integer-Research demand for AdBlue has increased from 55,000 tons in 2006 to over 415,000 tons in 2007 and usage continues to rise.

Costly Error for Northern Haulier

Recently a company (who wishes to remain anonymous) based in Crewe found themselves with a costly bill when they discovered that their new Renault Magnum’s NOx reduction system had become polluted.

The problem was first noticed when the operator called in to report the truck was operating at reduced RPM, after a lengthily visit to the local distributorship it was discovered that the cause of the problem was emulsified injector lines.

Further to receiving a bill exceeding £3500 and being advised that the failed SCR injector had been polluted with oil, the company director set off on a mission to find the source of the trouble before further trucks fell victim to the same problem.

The following investigation identified that the problem was caused by an operator using a non-dedicated container to transfer AdBlue from the IBC to the vehicle.  

The operator admitted to using a jug which had previously been used to top up engine oil and antifreeze and despite receiving a ‘quick rinse’ had led to contamination of the lines. Fortunately, the new magnum was the only truck to have received AdBlue from this container.

To confirm, AdBlue is highly susceptible to contamination and as little as 10ml of Oil present in a 70 litre fill can corrupt the system causing irreversible damage.

For more information on how to protect your AdBlue from contamination and increase the lifespan of your SCR, visit: www.handling-adblue.co.uk