Diesel engine manufacturers react to Navistar's Clean Air Act lawsuit

In a lawsuit filed in early July, Navistar, a U.S.-based manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines, accused U.S. Environmental Protection Agency director, Lisa Jackson, of not upholding the Clean Air Act and the Agency of not acting to protect public health. At issue is whether emissions-control systems that rely on a fluid (for example, a urea solution, commonly referred to as selective catalyst reduction or SCR) work in the real world, where the tanks may not be filled up.

As expected, some heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers disagree with Navistar's claims, saying the are backed by false information and lies. Take, for example, Mack Trucks' argument that Navistar's complaint has no merit on the ground of Navistar's own inability to design an engine that meets emissions requirements. More specifically, John Walsh, Mack Trucks director of media relations, says:

Given the history, we're not surprised by this – it sounds like more of the same. The irony is that, a year and a half after the regulations went into effect, they [Navistar] still can't meet the standard without credits, and their trucks are still spewing two-and-a-half times the pollutants allowed. We [Mack] think their complaint has no merit. We intend to file a motion to intervene.

Likewise, Brandon Borgna, manager of media relations for Volvo Trucks North America, told Fleet Owner that:

We intend to file a motion to intervene. We think the [Navistar] complaint is frivolous, and that it won't go anywhere. The market has already decided that SCR-equipped engines are the preferred choice in terms of performance and fuel economy, as well as the environment.

We don't pretend to know how cut-and-dry this case will turn out to be in court, but with support mounting against Navistar, you almost have to wonder if the diesel manufacturer is just trying to avoid completely redesigning its engines.

[Source: Fleet Owner]