Evolving technological systems for diesel engine emission control: balancing GHG and local emissions

The Triad—North America, Japan and Europe—now addresses diesel vehicle emissions by requiring 40–80% reductions from new heavy-duty trucks and passenger car diesels. The requirements imply introduction of new technology and fuels stepwise during 2005–2012 that will leave emissions from new diesel vehicles on par with the levels of gasoline passenger cars. This paper studies the recent development of diesel engine emission control in response to new regulation. The role for Swedish actors, including two of the world’s major truck manufacturers, is especially studied. The increasingly global Technological System for diesel engine emission control is compelled to manage further reductions of nitrogen oxides emissions and fuel consumption and CO₂, the balance of which has been the subject of several large legal disputes. Swedish OEMs are at present split into two technological sub-trajectories, while the future may be multi-pronged and include new engine types and fuels. Interestingly, similar commercial advantages that were sought by the pioneers introducing advanced feedback loop catalysis in gasoline cars in the 1970s are now sought by some heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers by conversely avoiding the mainstream—Selective catalytic reduction—solution. Incremental innovation is the new radical.