WASHINGTON, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) today
announced that it will build on its long-standing relationship with the United
States Department of Energy (DOE) to continue developing advanced diesel
engine technologies. Detroit Diesel was recently recognized with grants from
the DOE that will assist in funding two projects: one for a proposed High
Efficiency Clean Combustion (HECC) program and the other a proposed Exhaust
Energy Recovery (ER) program.
DDC is working on emergent commercially viable technologies that improve
thermal efficiency while meeting emissions regulations of 2010 and beyond.
DDC will pursue the development of such technologies through the proposed HECC
program, as well as through its work on the ER program. These two programs
combined are worth an estimated $27 million in government grants over the
course of the next several years.
"We're constantly reviewing how we design, develop and manufacture our
products to make sure we are providing the most productive, lowest emissions
technology," said Carsten Reinhardt, president and chief executive officer for
Detroit Diesel Corporation. "We're very proud to have been selected for these
two grants and to continue collaborating with the Department of Energy with
whom we've had a long-standing relationship."
HECC Program Hopes to Ignite New Technologies/Approaches
The collaborative HECC program is targeting a very challenging technical
goal: to combine several processes that enhance engine combustion individually
into one system enabling high efficiency clean combustion across the entire
engine speed-load range. Additionally, the project will develop engine
systems, hardware and controls to improve thermal efficiency while meeting
emissions levels of 2010 and beyond. Through working with the DOE, Detroit
Diesel will continue to push thermal efficiency levels higher, supporting the
Department of Energy's strategic goals of reduced dependence on foreign oil
and lower CO2 emissions.
"We are very pleased to be jointly developing the lead engine for our
global next-generation engine platform with Detroit Diesel. The new
collaborative DOE-DDC programs will benefit from this development. The new
awards clearly underscore the U.S. government's confidence in our research and
development efforts at DaimlerChrysler and at Detroit Diesel," said Dr. Gerald
Weber, head of DaimlerChrysler's Truck Product Creation organization, based in
Stuttgart, Germany.
In addition to partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy for this
program, DDC will also work closely with the Freightliner Group, Sandia
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Shell International Gas
Limited.
Harnessing Exhaust Energy Better
Just like the HECC program, the collaborative Exhaust Energy Recovery
program is intended to improve heavy-duty diesel engine fuel economy as it
focuses on evaluating engine-based technologies to partially recover and
convert exhaust energy into useful mechanical and electrical work. The focus
of the program will be on the development of technologies -- like
turbocompounding -- to optimize integration among powertrain components
(engine, aftertreatment, transmission and axles) and the vehicle in an effort
to reduce fuel consumption.
Successful completion of the ER program is expected to result in
commercially viable technologies that will provide significant energy,
environmental and economic benefits upon implementation.
The Expected End Result
"For both programs, we are looking at achieving a goal of 10 percent
thermal efficiency improvement, which if achieved nationally, could translate
to a cumulative savings of about 297 million barrels of fuel, about 120
million metric tons reduction of CO2 and about $22 billion in transportation
cost savings over a nine-year-period starting as early as 2012," concluded
Reinhardt. "We are very excited about the potential these programs may have
in protecting the environment and reducing the use of energy."
"Detroit Diesel Corporation and the Department of Energy have long worked
together on advanced technologies," said United States Senator Carl Levin,
whose office was instrumental in notifying Detroit Diesel that it had been
approved for the two grants. "Today, DDC is to be congratulated for being
named recipient of two U.S. Department of Energy grants totaling nearly $30
million. It is further evidence of the confidence the Department of Energy
has in Detroit Diesel's technological expertise."
Detroit Diesel's Series 60, MBE 900 and MBE 4000 engines are available in
vehicles produced by business units of Freightliner LLC. Freightliner LLC is
the largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in North America and a leading
manufacturer of medium-duty and specialized, commercial vehicles. Detroit
Diesel Corporation and Freightliner LLC are both part of DaimlerChrysler.
Detroit Diesel Corporation is the leading manufacturer of on-highway
heavy-duty diesel engines for the commercial truck market. The company offers
a complete line of engines from 170 to 515 horsepower for the on-highway and
vocational markets. Through its corporate headquarters in Detroit, Michigan,
Detroit Diesel is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and service of
these products, in addition to supporting alternative and hybrid engine
strategies for the commercial truck marketplace. Detroit Diesel is a
subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler and part of the Freightliner Group.
SOURCE Detroit Diesel Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.detroitdiesel.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/239425.html
CONTACT:
Liane Bilicki, Senior Communications Manager
of Detroit Diesel Corporation, +1-248-953-7351, or
liane.bilicki@detroitdiesel.com
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