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The Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to address widespread concerns from farmers, truckers, and other diesel vehicle operators about a loss of speed and power, or engine derates, caused by selective catalytic reduction systems that use diesel exhaust fluid.
Specifically, EPA is issuing guidance to manufacturers for how they may modify Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) systems on new and existing diesel vehicles and nonroad equipment to reduce derates that can limit a vehicles performance to nearly inoperable levels (as low as five miles per hour). EPA is urging engine and equipment manufacturers to follow this guidance and develop software updates that align with the Agency’s recommendations.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement that it will revise DEF guidelines for manufacturers of heavy trucks and off-road equipment. Manufacturers will be directed to update software in equipment that uses DEF to prevent them from losing power.
“Farm Bureau thanks the EPA and Administrator Zeldin for their common-sense approach to heavy trucks and off-road equipment that use Diesel Exhaust Fluid. When a vehicle runs out of DEF or there is an error in the software, it loses power, causing delays that could be the difference between getting a crop harvested or animals to their destination.
“EPA’s decision to grant a grace period to make repairs or refill DEF is the right thing to do. It keeps commerce moving and farmers in the field.”
Since 2010, nearly all on-road diesel trucks and many types of nonroad equipment (such as tractors and construction machinery) have used DEF as part of selective catalytic reduction systems to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, a major contributor to air quality nonattainment. These systems can force a vehicle to drastically reduce speed or become inoperable if DEF runs out or if system sensors fail.
More information can be found at https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/diesel-exhaust-fluid.
American Farm Bureau news release, EPA website
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