Clean Diesel Technologies (CDT) announced today (June 27th) that it has signed a contract with the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin testing one of its proprietary diesel retrofit systems under the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program.

The ETV program, a federal project designed to confirm the emissions reduction claims of environmental control companies, requires suppliers of commercial diesel retrofit technologies to submit applications to the EPA detailing expected reduction performance.

If an application is accepted, the company in question works out a detailed test program with the EPA. This has to take place in an independent laboratory, and includes testing of both new and aged systems used in commercial service for 1,000 hours.

Testing of the CDT systems Platinum Plus fuel borne catalyst (FBC) and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) systems will be executed at San Antonio's Southwest Institute. Testing will begin next month.

President of CDT James Valentine commented: 'This system has shown over 35 per cent particulate matter reduction in earlier screening tests on a medium-heavy duty diesel typical of engines used in school buses, refuse trucks and local delivery vehicles.

'The testing has been structured to help fulfil some of the fundamental requirements of retrofit verification under the Californian Air Research Board protocol simultaneously, so as to minimise duplication of testing efforts.

'Under EPA's Voluntary Retrofit program, reductions in emissions from school buses and corporate fleets are targeted under the Clean School Bus program and the Smartway Transport Program. These programmes generally require the use of verified technologies to be eligible for federal and state funding.'

Platinum-based emissions control technology will be tested in action with a view to developing the application for wider use.