Urban Trucks
Many trucks are used predominantly in areas with high population density, including
delivery vehicles, refuse carts and sweepers. Urban areas often have a problem with
air quality, especially in the summer months when targets for oxides of nitrogen
and particulate matter can be exceeded.
Exhaust emissions standards for new vehicles have progressively tightened over the
years, but with each new level the improvement compared to the previous level is
smaller yet costs more money to achieve. A very good payback can therefore be achieved
by upgrading older vehicles by one or two levels, for example from Euro 2 to Euro
4.
Many older vehicles may have already been retrofitted with diesel particulate filters,
however a lot of the first generation retrofit systems were very demanding in terms
of maintenance, especially when used in congested urban environments. In these cases
it may be cost-effective to replace the system with current technology, especially
if the remainder of the vehicle is in good condition. Of course second-generation
retrofit systems and systems supplied as original equipment need maintenance too,
and this should be entrusted to a properly experienced and equipped contractor in
order to maintain reliability and efficiency.
(Photo: Wall-flow filter system for Mercedes Actros)