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Fleet Management Clearing the Air Full-service leasing offers answers to fleets facing two engine emission control choices Hunter. “Over a typical 6-1/2-year lease term, a $7,000 price increase for the en- gine will increase the monthly lease pay- ment by about $114.” By choosing the right 2010 engine emissions reduction technology, companies can realize some reductions in operating expenses over the life of the truck, he said. For example, the 2010 engine in medium- duty trucks using SCR technology can offer a net 3 to 5 percent improvement in fuel economy when compared to 2007 EPA-compliant engines. Hunter said extrapolating a conservative estimate of a 3 percent net improvement, a fleet can help offset the additional cost of the engine — but not completely. “Consider a fleet running a medium- duty truck with a 2010 SCR engine 35,000 miles per year and getting 7.5 mpg fuel economy,” he said. “With diesel at $3.50 per gallon, when you factor in the 3 percent net fuel economy savings over a typical 6-1/2-year lease term, the company can expect to save $3,156 — or $40 per month. Photos courtesy of PACCAR Leasing Company (PacLease). I n response to federal emission stan- dards in the United States and Canada, engine manufacturers se- lected one of two choices to achieve a reduction in emissions of oxides of nitro- gen (NOx). They either provide an in- cylinder approach through increased exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) only, or an engine aftertreatment approach using se- lective catalytic reduction (SCR) technol- ogy, in combination with EGR. “The choices in engine technology available to truck and private fleet opera- tors have never been so different,” said Olen Hunter, director of sales for PAC- CAR Leasing, (PacLease). “And making the right choice has never been so impor- tant for companies to control their fleet operating costs, get more mileage out of the engines, and gain a competitive edge.” Engines manufactured after Jan. 1, 2010 meet the emission standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA last set new emission standards in 2004 and 2007. Last year, the Obama Ad- ministration announced plans to draft reg- 10 Landscape and Irrigation April 2011 ulations for minimum fuel economy and limited carbon dioxide emissions that will go into effect in 2014. Those fuel economy and CO2 standards are being finalized by the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They’re anticipated to rely on the use of existing products and technology, including 2010 engines, to achieve those goals. According to Hunter, new engine emis- sion control standards offer one reason why companies should consider full-service leas- ing from a company that understands the 2010 U.S. EPA-compliant engines. “Leasing can help take the guesswork out of specifying and servicing 2010 en- gines,” said Hunter. “Plus, the leasing com- pany can handle any warranty issues and take over any risk associated with truck re- sale values.” Either way, expect a price increase “Regardless which 2010 engine opera- tors choose, they will see a price increase in the engine. By leasing their trucks, com- panies can spread that cost over time,” said “Whether you decide to lease or buy a medium-duty truck with 2010 engine technology, even at a net 3 percent im- provement in fuel economy, the fuel sav- ings doesn’t completely offset the additional cost,” Hunter added. “However, full-service leasing can make it easier to acquire the new engine technology. You’re not having to deal with a large upfront cost or maintenance of the truck, and you can spread the additional cost of the en- gine in monthly payments over several years.” But how does SCR technology deliver a net 3 percent improvement in fuel econ- omy? To fully understand, truck operators should become more familiar with SCR technology and the increased EGR ap- proaches to emission reduction, said Hunter. SCR versus EGR Both the SCR technology and the in- creased EGR approaches use EGR to cir- culate a portion of an engine’s exhaust gas back to the engine cylinders to achieve a reduction in emissions. Also, both methods use a diesel particulate filter to remove particulate matter from the engine ex- haust. The SCR technology approach uses a www.landscapeirrigation.com