Nano-CATalysts for HEAVY Duty Applications

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Most Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs) are powered by diesel engines that are equipped with catalyst-based emission control systems (CECS) to reduce fuel-burning pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM) in line with legislative thresholds ('Euro emission standards'). The current Euro VI standard was introduced in January 2013 and requires a 95% reduction in emissions of the primary pollutants of concern from HDVs (PM2.5 and NOx), compared to the Euro II baseline. Future steps in emissions standards are already under discussion and they are expected to lead to further challenges for existing HDVs. The cost to public authorities of renewing HDV fleets to meet air quality requirements can be prohibitive and solutions that reduce the investment needed are highly sought-after.

OBJECTIVES

LIFE CAT4HEAVY is developing a CECS that can cost-effectively bring older heavy-duty vehicles up to Euro VI standard. This would help to significantly reduce air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions (by at least 30% per vehicle) as well as cutting consumption of critical raw materials (such as platinum group metals) and ammonia from the HDV sector by 2027 and from other vehicles and boats by 2035.

Specific project actions will involve scaling up the pilot CECS and testing it on HDVs from the fleets of the Municipality of Galatsi and two project partners in Italy - the city of Mantua and port of Genoa – to prove that the Euro VI standard can be met at significantly reduced cost. Compared to current commercial technologies, the new CECS will eliminate the use of ammonia in after-treatment and halve the use of platinum group metals. It will be possible to recycle up to 98% of those metals from retrofitted HDVs. To encourage uptake of the new system across, the project will work with partners in Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain and create a network of decision-makers, technology experts and other critical stakeholders in policymaking, fostering the development of EU emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, as defined in a series of directives since the motor vehicles emissions Directive of 1970.

Expected results:

Upscaling of innovative emission control technology and validation that it meets emission standards better than Euro VI by 10%, while cutting costs by 50%;

Demonstration through testing that the solution can be retrofitted on all existing HDVs, regardless of their Euro class, engine, weight, HDV category;

A life-cycle analysis to evaluate environmental impact and economic risks, including costs of commericial-scale production;

Creation of an external stakeholders' group to create market demand and accelerate adoption of the technology;

Dissemination of the environmental and health advantages of the new technology to the general public;

A network of policy decision-makers and stakeholders exchanging know-how and experiences on emission control technologies and pushing forward the EU emission Regulation for HDVs.