Manufacturers and suppliers met last week to discuss developing an infrastructure to distribute the urea diesel exhaust fluid needed for selective catalytic reduction.


Executives from leading car, truck and engine manufacturers, diesel exhaust fluid producers, fuel retailers, and distributors and dispensing equipment suppliers met with members of trade associations and governing agencies at meetings held in concert with the Department of Energy's Diesel Engine-Efficiency and Emissions Research (DEER) Conference in Dearborn, Mich., to plan for the rollout of SCR technology in diesel-powered vehicles. SCR is one of the technologies that will be used to meet 2010 EPA emissions regulations in heavy truck diesel engines, and SCR is also being introduced in passenger cars and light trucks in 2008/2009.

Key to that rollout is the development of a distribution and retail infrastructure to support the availability of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), a fluid that enables SCR systems in vehicles to operate. Participants say outcomes of this cross-functional commitment will be a nationwide infrastructure that supports product availability and assures the quality of diesel exhaust fluid.

The SCR Stakeholder Group represents nearly 200 public and private organizations. Participants include government agencies (U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), automotive and heavy-duty engine and truck manufacturers and trade associations, fuel retailers and truck stop trade associations, chemical and oil companies, diesel exhaust fluid producers, distributors and dispensing equipment manufacturers. Recognizing SCR to be one of the most fuel efficient and effective emissions technologies available, objectives for the SCR Stakeholders Group are:

* To exchange information with the U.S. government and other potential stakeholders on the potential market and need for SCR technology and diesel exhaust fluid availability.

* To engage potential providers and distributors of diesel exhaust fluid and determine the conditions necessary for provision of retail availability before a profitable market exists.

* To consider effective education tools and outreach to consumers and commercial markets about diesel exhaust fluid, its use and availability.

Members involved on the trucking side include the American Trucking Associations, Cummins, Daimler Trucks North America, Detroit Diesel, Diesel Technology Forum, the Engine Manufacturers Association, Flying J, Freightliner Trucks, International Truck & Engine, Love's Travel Stops, Mack Trucks, the truckstop association Natso, Paccar, Petro, Pilot Travel Centers, Ryder System, TravelCenters of America, the Truck Manufacturers Association, as well as petroleum companies such as Chevron, ConocoPhillips, CHS, ExxonMobil, Shell, Volvo Trucks North America, and government groups such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.