Caterpillar Inc. recently received certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the company's first engine equipped with ACERT Technology for 2007. This technology positions Caterpillar to meet future EPA emissions regulations and provides a long-term emissions solution for the global on-highway engine market.
"With this certification, Caterpillar has delivered on the promises made when we introduced ACERT Technology in 2002," said Jim Parker, vice president of Caterpillar Power Systems’ marketing division. "ACERT Technology has set a new industry standard for clean diesel technology, meeting the clean air goals we all support while maintaining the reliability, durability and minimal owning and operating costs that Cat engines traditionally have provided."
The first EPA-certified Caterpillar engine with ACERT Technology is the C7, a popular choice with customers who operate medium-duty vocational and delivery trucks. It will be in full production by January 1. The C7 is also widely used in a variety of other medium duty applications, including school buses, emergency vehicles and recreational vehicles.
ACERT Technology relies on four basic systems to lower emissions – air management, precision combustion, advanced electronics and effective after-treatment. These four systems work to decrease particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbon emissions while preserving the engine's reliability and durability, which keep owning and operating costs low.
Caterpillar has sold more than 450,000 on-highway engines with ACERT Technology to more than 46,000 customers since the technology was introduced in 2003. The Caterpillar C7 engine features an enhanced version of ACERT Technology that allows it to comply with the 2007 EPA regulations without sacrificing reliability, durability or fuel economy.
