Study reveals natural gas engine can achieve the lowest smog emissions

The world goes mad about the climate – OK, fair enough. We are scared to bits. But the world cares much less about the toxic stuff that comes out of the exhaust. Let me put it another way. CO2 is bad for the climate but it won’t harm a human directly. NOx, PM, and SOx are highly toxic even in small doses. The WHO estimates that Diesel emissions are as toxic as asbestos or Sarin, a nerve agent. We are scared of the gas that won’t harm us directly, but we are not from the stuff that definitely kills us. What does that say about us as humans?

The University of California, Riverside Bourns College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced the results of a new study on ultra-low emission natural gas heavy-duty engines, showing a new 11.9-liter engine achieved California’s lowest smog-forming emissions standard, and maintained those emissions during all types of driving. The study results underscore the importance of the near-zero truck engines for cleaning the air.

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