Mercedes E320 Bluetec arrives as 45-State Vehicle
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While DaimlerChrysler announced at the start of this year it would be introducing its E320 BLUETEC with clean diesel technology as a 50-state vehicle, the car will be hitting showrooms as a 45-state compliant car. BLUETEC, DaimlerChrysler's aftertreatment system promises to meet the upcoming EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions, which would make it 50-state compliant. However, to meet these tough new standards, a urea selective catalytic reduction system is needed. The 45-state version of the Mercedes E320 comes equipped with a nitric oxide absorber, which converts nitric oxides into nitrogen. This brings the emissions close to the strict new standards, but not quite all the way there, according to a 2004 test of a prototype. In an Autoweek article, found here, EPA guidelines for urea systems are a few weeks away. The uncertainty regarding the EPA direction on urea might have led to the decision by Mercedes-Benz to reduce the E320 BLUETEC to a 45-state vehicle.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David J. 10:56AM (12/08/2008)
the bigger the engine, the harder it is to pass the tier 2 bin 5 emissions. The 4 cylinder turbodiesel Jetta's are 50 state compliant without urea injection! The BMW 3 series and the E class all need urea injection to pass emissions in CA, NJ, Pa etc. They will shut off if the urea tank is not filled!
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Schneegz 1:07PM (8/31/2006)
This just shows how much more strict American emissions standards are than European standards.
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Derek 10:10AM (9/07/2006)
+1 on that. Really blows away the myth that we can't get Euro diesel cars because of our fuel. Even with the new ULSD that the US is going to, only a few European diesels will be coming over.
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JON L 2:14PM (9/19/2006)
I truly believe that our gov't is making it such that diesels will have a hard time coming here in mass...just look at the price of diesel now..is it just a coincedence or did the prices skyrocket just about the time that the talk of many diesel models hitting our shores???? I think efficient diesel technology is bad for big oil and therefor they will do all that is possible to keep it down. For what its worth.
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gsh 11:24PM (9/24/2006)
There are many troubling questions surrounding this issue: The Fed will let CAFE laws stand to help US manufactures catch-up to the global standards but tighten emission laws that block incredibly fuel efficient and clean diesel engines developed offshore from reaching our us. Why? It smacks of protectionism and market manipulation. The vast majority of diesel pollution comes from heavy machinery, trucks, buses, train and marine engines. Why punish California drivers (and other CARB states) who want to save the environment and curb our foreign oil addiction for driving clean diesel vehicles when they are not the problem? What we see here are two examples of governments, Fed and state, doing just the opposite but speaking the same spin. The poor Fed is slave to big oil and CA is slave to misguided green strawmen. Sorry but that's the way I see it.
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