Volvo Penta, which has just launched a new line of EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IV PowerPac industrial open power units for OEM manufacturers in the Americas, is now looking to move into new territory, with new solutions, to be ready before European Stage V regulations come into effect. It is expected that the European Commission will legislate for an increased reduction in emissions in all off-road diesel engines, expected to come into force in 2019.
While current regulations limit the overall mass of particle emissions, Stage V will also affect the number of particles emitted. The European Commission made its proposals in September 2014, on the basis that tighter controls would be needed on diesel exhaust emissions.
Giorgio Paris, head of Volvo Penta’s industrial segment globally, commented: "Europe is leading the way on global emissions targets, and Volvo Penta is excited to be at the forefront of developing new technologies," he said.
EC controls on the of discharge of nitrous oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) for off-road diesel engines were first adopted in 1997 under Directive 97/68/EC. The legislation has been amended many times since, to reach the current Stage IV level, which limits emissions of NOx to 0.4 g/kWh. Emissions of particulate matter is also currently limited to 0.025 g/kWH. Stage IV regulations are applicable to non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) with engines ranging from 19-560kW.
The European Commission’s proposals for Stage V would place more stringent controls on emissions and widen the scope of applicability.
They are expected to reduce particle mass limits to 0.015 g/kWh and particle numbers to 1 x 10₁₂/kWh, and will be applicable to all non-road mobile machinery.
The USA’s Environmental Protection Agency has not yet made proposals for further controls, but their Tier 4 regulations ran parallel to the EU’s Stage IV, and it is believed that the EPA may adopt further controls in line with EU Stage V.
New emissions controls for Stage V will see Volvo Penta adopting further solutions to limit gaseous and soot discharge. Giogio Paris commented "We will design a system that will make the transition from today’s emissions controls to new regulations as smooth as possible, that minimises the need to redesign the engine installation. Members of the Volvo Group are already using several technical solutions capable of meeting upcoming Stage V regulations, and so Volvo Penta already has access to proven technology."
The standard range of offering engines from 5 to 16 litre, from 105-565kW, will stay the same. New solutions on how to adapt existing engines to conform to Stage V regulations, will utilise the latest technology prior to implementation in 2019. This means the engine programme will be consistent, from Stage II to Stage V, which is beneficial for the OEMs.
In using SCR technology and AdBlue™ for Stage IV, Volvo Penta engines did not require the use of a diesel particulate filter (DPF). DPFs are used in on-road vehicles – from the Volvo Group as a whole – and some off-road applications. With more stringent emissions for Stage V there will be a DPF as part of the solution for Volvo Penta.
