Summary
SCR, EGR and Scrubber Technologies are an important step into the right direction. Nature shows different ways too.
Analysis
Most companies operating in the field of engines for heavy duty vehicles try to come to grips with the ever changing legislations on emissions of noxious gases by using a mixture of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) in their engines' cycles.
In order for SCR and EGR systems yielding the best results quite expensive electronics are needed and various additives to the diesel fuel used is required. These processes indeed reduce noxious gases and at the same time increase the complexity of the engines and increase the fuel consumption.
In my humble opinion the way truly forward is starting to balance the molecular structure of the diesel used. Some interesting and promising experiments have taken place with EM Effective Microorganisms over the recent years. The EM-technology was pioneered by the Japanese agriculture professor, Prof. Dr. Teruo Higa, in the early 1980s. Its application the field of environmental protection have yielded interesting results too.
From my long experience in the truck industry I fear that we are incurring increasingly higher cost due to the complexity of the various technologies. Western markets are able to invest in these technologies. However, the growth of diesel consumption is taking place in other parts of the world with less investment power.
We all have a tendency to 'solve' problems with technology followed by über-technology. More and more I believe that nature leads the way with simple 'technologies' like EM. Technologies that not only bring environmental benefits but bring sizeable cost-savings as well.
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Here come some sites on EM for your further exploring the topic: http://www.eminfo.eu/ and http://emrojapan.com/ and an article in German about experiences with EM and diesel powered heavy duty engines in
The best way forward is to reduce consumption of diesel and thereby reduce the amount of noxious gases thereby at source. SCR, EGR and scrubbers are an important and temporary step into the right direction.
