November 2008, Government Fleet - Feature
2010 Diesel Standards on Street Sweepers
By Shelley Mika
Part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) job is to ensure clean air for all Americans. In doing so, they’ve imposed increasingly strict limits on emissions for on-highway engines such as street sweepers. In fact, the EPA has announced higher standards for NOx emissions in 2010. Clean air is important, but higher standards also mean changes in the automotive industry that can be tough to meet. Despite these challenges, Elgin Sweeper continues to meet EPA and market needs.
Preparing for New Requirements
Currently, all Elgin Sweeper truck-mounted on-highway sweepers meet EPA 2007 emission standards. In the future, when EPA 2010-compliant chassis become available, Elgin will adopt these as standard equipment as well.
"Elgin Sweeper offers both conventional and cab-over chassis that meet the stringent California low NOx idle shutdown exemption," said Brian Giles, product manager for Elgin Sweeper. "Elgin Sweeper will continue to offer pre-EPA 2007 emission chassis to serve international and military customers with access to ultra low sulfur diesel fuel."
The new EPA standards call for a 90-percent cut in NOx emissions. Elgin is working to meet the new standards by developing and offering ultra low emission, alternative-fueled sweepers. For instance, markets that require emissions even lower than the EPA 2007 standards can purchase vehicles powered by natural gas or propane as opposed to diesel fuel.
To prepare for the new requirements, Elgin Sweeper also worked on developing and optimizing chassis. For instance, EPA 2007-compliant engines often emit exhaust at higher temperatures. To counter this, Elgin Sweeper standardized vertical exhaust systems that direct engine exhaust heat away from street debris that may contain litter or dry leaves and cause fires. Vertical exhaust systems mean a safer exhaust practice overall.
Elgin Sweeper engineers also worked with chassis manufacturers to carefully plan and position diesel particulate traps in locations that won’t collect debris or require a technician to come too close to a high temperature area during normal maintenance. While developing new technologies, Elgin kept customers in mind.
"Even before Elgin Sweeper shipped the first EPA 2007 emission sweeper, instructions on how the new emission control systems work were sent to the Elgin Sweeper dealer network so end customers could be adequately trained on proper diesel particulate trap regeneration as they received their new sweepers," Giles said.