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fleet’s horsepower per year if the fleet doesn’t meet the nitrogen
oxide (NOx) requirement and retrofit 20 percent of the
fleet’s horsepower per year if the fleet doesn’t meet the particulate
matter (PM) requirements.
Strict requirements like these are the effect of the Tier requirements
and these type of regulations aren’t likely to stay
put in California — Illinois and New York are beginning to
adopt similar legislation.
“With drastically varying programs in each state, equipment
owners will need to work with their local regulatory authorities
to determine how specific local programs will affect
them or consult with their local dealer,” says Glen Chrusciel,
Program Manager, Repower and Retrofit for John Deere Power
Systems. “John Deere dealers are actively engaged with their
local regulators to fully understand the requirements of local
retrofit programs. They are delivering a suite of emission
reduction solutions including engineered tier-up repowers,
retrofit after-treatment, machine replacement and short- or
long-term machine rentals.”
Where We Are Now
Your heart is racing, your stomach is growling
and your mouth has gone dry. You’ve just
thought about what emissions regulations
could do to your operations. Don’t panic. The
more you understand about engines, the less
scary all these changes seem. So let’s take a
look at where we’re at right now.
Tier 3 regulations are in full swing, while Tier
4 Interim is just gearing up. You’ve likely heard
of Tier 3 when bidding projects. Nearly all new
machines on the market today are powered by
a Tier 3 engine. Any machine that hasn’t been
purchased new in the past year (give or take a
year depending on the manufacturer) is likely
behind the curve. But as technology tends to
do, Tier 3 is already yesterday’s news.
Last month at Bauma, the largest construction
industry trade show in world held every
three years in Munich, Germany, Tier 4 Interim
engines were making headlines with everyone
from Perkins and John Deere to Caterpillar,
Cummins and Komatsu.
A bit of background — in 2004, the EPA
published the final rule introducing Tier 4
emissions standards, which are to be phased
in over the period of 2008 to 2015. The Tier
4 standards require that emissions of PM and NOx be further
reduced by about 90 percent.
Tier 4 began in 2008 for all engines under 19 kilowatts
(kW), and for those greater than or equal to 19 kW but less
than 56 kW. For engines in the 130- to 560-kW category, and
those in the category for above 560 kW, Tier 4 Interim applies
in 2011. Finally, for the 56- to 130-kW category, Tier 4
Interim applies in 2012. Tier 4 Final standards generally are
applicable three years after the Tier 4 Interim start date.
Tier 4 Interim regulations begin in 2011 for most power
categories and Tier 4 Final is phased in beginning in 2014.
Tier 4 Interim is intended to enable a gradual phase in to final
Behold! The first Caterpillar machine that meets Tier 4 Interim standards —
the 336E Caterpillar excavator. With Tier 4 getting into full swing in 2011,
expect a lot more of these machines to hit jobsites.
regulations for manufacturers. Tier 4 Final regulations require
additional reductions in NOx. Alternative phase-in periods
from Interim to Final are intended to provide time to transfer
technology from highway engines to off-road engines.
The difference between Tier 4 Interim and Final? An additional
50 percent reduction in NOx emissions. That’s no small
potatoes. But what does it mean to you? It means that new
technology is going to be coming down the pike in the next
couple of years with new requirements in and of themselves.
For example, Tier 4 Interim products all require the use of
ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel containing a maximum of
15-ppm sulfur as opposed to current low-sulfur diesel (LSD),
which contains 500-ppm sulfur maximum. By law, ULSD
must be widely available in the United States by June 2010.
Availability of a fuel that, for all intents and purposes,
doesn’t exist right now for the consumer aside, the cost of
Tier 4 Interim engines is also going to be substantial.
“While the details have not yet been finalized, price actions
associated with recovering the costs of Tier 4 Interim for our
machines in the 130- to 560-kW power range may increase
prices by as much as 12 percent over our Tier 4 Interim introduction
time frame,” says Stu Levenick Caterpillar Group
President. “We anticipate the first increase, starting January 1,
2011, to be about one-third of the 12 percent increase. Pricing
for commercial engine applications, such as electric power,
industrial and petroleum, will vary depending on product
and power range. We plan to initiate broad-based emissions
related price actions also starting January 1, 2011, for all
products, including those utilizing transitional provisions.”
Going Retro
So where do you start? Head to your local dealer for a fleet
assessment. From there, your dealer should be able to help you
May 2010 | Utility Contractor 15