Gist pioneers new after-treatment to reduce vehicle emissions
Specialist logistics operator Gist is working with engine manufacturer Cummins to reduce harmful emissions by trialing a new exhaust after-treatment process using urea injection.
When injected into the exhaust stream of a vehicle, the urea, which is a by-product of the nitrogen chemical industry, reduces oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a gas emitted by petrol and diesel vehicles. The results collected so far show that the addition of urea to diesel reduces NOx emissions by 75 per cent, to below proposed Euro 4 and even Euro 5 levels.
John Cruxon, Gist’s group fleet engineer, comments: “All new heavy commercial vehicles will soon be required by law to meet new, lower levels of emissions, so we were very keen to trial the urea injection as a method of achieving this.
“This is one of a number of environmental initiatives that we have put in place as part of our developing environmental policy. For example, we have recently fitted particulate traps to 155 vehicles and run up to nineteen natural gas powered vehicles – also with the aim of significantly reducing normal levels of harmful emissions.”
The trial, which was funded by the Energy Saving Trust, has been aimed at establishing the effects the after-treatment has on fuel performance. Gist has used an ERF 35 tonne tractor in the trials and has not noticed any negative effect on the vehicle’s performance. It is able to cover the same number of miles per gallon as vehicles run purely on diesel and day-to-day running costs are very similar. The only difference is that an additional tank had to be installed to hold the urea, but this is a small price to pay in comparison to the environmental benefits that have been achieved.
Continued…2
GIST PIONEERS NEW DIESEL ADDITIVE … 2
Simon Guest, project leader for Cummins, adds: “The pilot vehicles have been running for over a year, so we have had the opportunity to collate a great deal of data. The results were very close to our original expectations and prove that SCR is a feasible option for low-emission after-treatment technology.”
Cummins will fully evaluate the results of the trial, which ended in June, and make them available to fleet operators and the vehicle manufacturing industry. However, early indications show that it has been a success.
- ends -
Notes to editors
Gist combines leading edge experience and expertise to transform supply chains through intelligent application of innovative leading edge technology, unique solutions tailored to customers’ strategies, managing change and embracing and enhancing the supply chain proposition. With industry specific experience, expertise and excellence, Gist’s solutions bring end-to-end visibility and implementation, from concept to delivery.
Gist, based in the United Kingdom, has its head office at Basingstoke in Hampshire. However, Gist’s 4,500 employees operate out of 28 locations, providing a full range of intellectual and asset-based business offering in the UK, continental Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America.
Gist’s customers (including Ocado, Marks & Spencer, British Airways, Carlsberg UK and Budgens) operate in a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors, including grocery, electronics, apparel and gas.
As part of the BOC Group, which serves two million customers in more than 50 countries, Gist also benefits from BOC’s global capability, synergy and scale.
To find out more about Gist, for photography or to arrange an interview with the Gist team please contact the Gist press office:
For more press information, contact:
Michele Mervin
Tel: 01256 891111
Fax: 01256 891122
Email: michele.mervin@gistworld.com
