Meeting Future Regulations

Customers don't typically purchase a vehicle because it meets emissions or fuel economy standards.   They are interested in style, power, safety and performance.  Although there are smaller consumer segments that are motivated by good fuel economy and low noise, it’s difficult to sell clean and efficient vehicles in the absence of a bottom-line motivation to seek out these attributes.  Yet the vehicle manufacturer can’t sell style, power or performance without also making sure that the vehicles that are offered to consumers meet the existing regulations in the markets where they will be sold.

This challenge requires a very efficient and precise approach to solving the issue of regulations compliance.  Each level of technology that is added to a vehicle introduces additional cost.  In the absence of clear market drivers for lower emissions and/or better fuel economy, the challenge lies in identifying and implementing technologies that lead to compliance while being efficient, low-cost, and robust.

FEV engineers are constantly working to find solutions to the challenges presented by future regulations, in many different markets across the globe.  In a marketplace in which a single vehicle might be homologated into multiple global markets, this international experience and perspective is a valuable asset to our customers.  

There are many approaches to solving future emissions regulations, including combustion system modifications, exhaust gas aftertreatment, thermal system optimization, variable valve timing, and fuel injection system changes, among many others.

FEV’s NVH engineers have sophisticated methodologies for developing vehicles that comply with drive-by noise regulations.

In the diesel segment, despite very stringent Federal Tier 2 emission standards in the United States, efforts are being made to introduce the diesel engine back into the U.S. market. In order to succeed, these vehicles have to comply with emissions standards over a 120,000 miles distance while maintaining their excellent fuel economy. FEV has developed innovative solutions involving technologies such as high-pressure common-rail fuel systems, low sulfur diesel fuel, NOx adsorber catalysts (NAC), urea-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR), and diesel particle filters (DPFs) to allow the development of powertrain systems that have the potential to comply with the light-duty Tier 2 emission requirements.

FEV's development of SCR technology has led to the creation of an alternative solid SCR system based on ammonia carbamate as well as continuous development of urea-based SCR systems. Several vehicles have already been prepared to demonstrate the feasibility of these SCR systems for both light and heavy-duty applications.

FEV engineers continue to investigate new combustion systems such as homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) systems; we are also working with technologies to improve EGR tolerance and boosting technologies that allow for cleaner combustion throughout the engine map.

Our work in the area of reducing fuel consumption is discussed elsewhere on this website. 

FEV has become world renown for its work in this field. We are well prepared for meeting the challenges presented by future standards for gasoline and Diesel engines, and support our customers in the alternative fuels area, as well.  We work in many different industries and market segments, including light- and heavy-duty vehicles, trucks, busses, marine and agricultural engines,  lawn and garden engines, locomotives, motorcycles and off-road vehicles, just to name a few.

Independent of your product and market, FEV has a solution that meets your needs.  Give us a call, or click on the “contact us” link on this page.   If you’d like more information, follow the “related fields” links to the right.   FEV’s engineering staff is standing by to support your needs.