Automakers Petition for Sulfur Limits

Jan. 13, 2005
The American Automobile Manufacturers Assn. (AAMA) and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) have petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national year-round limits on the concentration of sulfur ...

The American Automobile Manufacturers Assn. (AAMA) and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) have petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national year-round limits on the concentration of sulfur in unleaded gasoline.

Sulfur interferes with catalyst technology on current and future vehicles, and has the effect of increasing air pollution from these vehicles. AAMA and AIAM have called for sulfur limits that are as low as practicable, but in no case greater than 40 ppm by weight, or not greater than 30 ppm by weight annual average, with a per gallon cap of 80 ppm. These benchmarks are consistent with the sulfur limits currently enforced in California, the state with the strictest emissions rules.

In addition to low sulfur, other gasoline improvements are also critical to more clean air benefits. Some of these issues will be the subject of further auto industry regulatory initiatives.

AAMA President and CEO Andrew H. Card and AIAM President and CEO Philip A. Hutchinson agree that automakers have made tremendous strides in reducing vehicle emissions. "Today's vehicles are 96% cleaner than those of the 1960s, and Low Emission Vehicles will be 99% clean," says Card. "But fuel quality is lagging behind the state-of-the-art vehicle technology. Cleaner vehicles will maximize their potential only when they operate on clean fuels."

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!