In February 2016, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG, Bosch LLC and Bosch GmbH were sued by private plaintiffs alleging BlueTec violates standards in a manner similar to the Volkswagen emissions scandal.[3] On December 6, 2016, U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, finding the plaintiffs had alleged no standing.[4] The case was reinstated after Plaintiffs amended the complaint, and the litigation is ongoing. On July 12, 2021, the court granted final approval to the proposed class action settlement, which includes cash payments to previous and current owners, free retrofits to the cars' emissions systems, and extended emissions systems warranties for the affected models.[5] A similar settlement was reached in Canada on February 2, 2022.[6]
Daimler introduced BlueTEC in the Mercedes E-Class (using the DeNOx system) and GL-Class (using SCR) at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. At that time, these BlueTEC vehicles were 45- and 50-state legal, respectively, in the United States (a 45-state vehicle does not meet the more stringent California emission standards that have also been adopted by four other states).
Daimler AG has entered into an agreement with Volkswagen and Audi to share BlueTEC technology with them in order to increase the Diesel passenger-vehicle market in the United States.[7][8] VW introduced the Jetta Clean TDI, the Tiguan concept, and the Touareg BlueTDI as part of the BlueTec licensing program. The Jetta and the Tiguan use NOx adsorbers, while the Touareg uses a Selective Catalytic Reduction catalytic converter.[citation needed]
In August 2007 VW Group announced that cooperation on BlueTEC with Daimler AG would end. The reasoning for this change is due to the recognition of the VW TDI branding. VW did not want to use a competitor's branding for a product they would introduce into the market.[9] VW developed their own system, but it failed and they re-programmed the engine control to show false values during pollution tests.[10][11][12]
By 2010 a BlueTEC version of the Mercedes Sprinter was released. The BlueTEC systems allowed the elimination of much of the EGR in that vehicle's engine, which as a result gives 188 horsepower (140 kilowatts) compared to the non-BlueTec engine's 154 horsepower (115 kilowatts).[13]
Rationale
The BlueTEC system was created because diesel engines, while more fuel efficient than gasoline engines, operate at lean air-fuel ratios, preventing them from implementing the highly-efficient three-way catalysts employed for NO x conversion in gasoline engines, which operate at stoichiometric air-fuel ratios. Limiting NO x by use of engine controls alone is possible, but requires a significant penalty to fuel economy. Tier 2 regulations in the US are 0.07 grams per mile of NOx, which is ⅛ of the 0.40 limit in the European Union.[14][citation needed]
A DeNOx catalytic converter begins a preliminary removal of oxides of nitrogen.
A particulate filter traps and stores soot particles, burning them off when the filter gets full.
If the above are not sufficient to meet the prevailing emissions regulations, a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalytic converter will convert the remaining nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and water; so-called diesel exhaust fluid (solution of urea and water) is injected into the exhaust gas stream to enable the conversion. In order to prevent vehicles from breaking emissions regulations, the engine may go into a limp-home-mode if the DEF tank is depleted; drivers are instructed to keep the tank refilled as necessary. Some commercial vehicles are equipped with a request or inhibit switch which allows the DEF injection to be "postponed" as it can reduce power output and increase temperatures temporarily; if the vehicle is climbing a grade, for example, it may be necessary to delay the cycle.
Emissions defeat device allegations
The Netherlands' official automobile inspector TNO, on behalf of the Dutch Minister of the Environment, conducted an on-road test of a C-Class Mercedes C220 CDi BlueTec diesel and determined it emitted more than 40 times the amount of cancer-causing NO x than in the lab test.[15] The tests were done at temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius (50 °F). Mercedes says it is permissible for the BlueTec engine to emit 40 times more NO x when the temperature is less than 10 °C (50 °F).[16]
As of April 22, 2016, Mercedes-Benz USA disclosed it is under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential discrepancies over its diesel emissions certifications, according to a Daimler statement. The DOJ effectively told MBUSA to begin an internal investigation "to review its certification and admissions process related to exhaust emissions in the United States," Daimler said. The company "has agreed to cooperate fully with the DOJ."[17]
In Feb 2018, German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that US authorities investigating Mercedes have discovered that its vehicles are equipped with illegal software to help them pass United States' stringent emission tests. The claimed defeat devices include a "Bit 15" mode to switch off emissions after 16 miles of driving (the length of an official U.S. emissions test), and "Slipguard" which tries to directly determine if the car is being tested based on speed and acceleration profiles. Bild am Sonntag said it found emails from Daimler engineers questioning whether those functions were legal.[18][19][20]
References
^. Ward's AutoWorld. WardsAuto.com. 2006-12-05. Archived from the original on 2009-07-22. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
^. Ward's AutoWorld. WardsAuto.com. 2007-12-13. Archived from the original on 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
^Harris, Andrew M (18 February 2016). "Mercedes Faces Lawsuit Over BlueTec Clean Diesel Emissions". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
^Teichert, Erica (6 December 2016). "U.S. judge throws out emissions fraud lawsuit against Mercedes". Reuters. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
^"Home | MB BlueTEC Settlement". www.mbbluetecsettlement.com. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^"Home | Kalra v. Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc". www.bluetecsettlement.ca. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^"2008 VW Jetta TDi coming with BlueTec and 50 state emissions".
bluetec, mercedes, benz, group, marketing, name, engines, equipped, with, advanced, reducing, technology, vehicle, emissions, control, diesel, powered, vehicles, technology, bluetec, vehicles, includes, selective, catalytic, reduction, system, that, uses, dies. BlueTEC is Mercedes Benz Group s marketing name for engines equipped with advanced NOx reducing technology for vehicle emissions control in diesel powered vehicles The technology in BlueTec vehicles includes a selective catalytic reduction SCR system that uses diesel exhaust fluid and a system of NOx adsorbers the automaker calls DeNOx which uses an oxidizing catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter combined with other NOx reducing systems The BlueTEC was on the Ward s 10 Best Engines list for 2007 and 2008 1 2 In February 2016 Mercedes Benz Daimler AG Bosch LLC and Bosch GmbH were sued by private plaintiffs alleging BlueTec violates standards in a manner similar to the Volkswagen emissions scandal 3 On December 6 2016 U S District Judge Jose L Linares dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice finding the plaintiffs had alleged no standing 4 The case was reinstated after Plaintiffs amended the complaint and the litigation is ongoing On July 12 2021 the court granted final approval to the proposed class action settlement which includes cash payments to previous and current owners free retrofits to the cars emissions systems and extended emissions systems warranties for the affected models 5 A similar settlement was reached in Canada on February 2 2022 6 Contents 1 Uses 2 Rationale 3 Process 4 Emissions defeat device allegations 5 References 6 External linksUses EditDaimler introduced BlueTEC in the Mercedes E Class using the DeNOx system and GL Class using SCR at the 2006 North American International Auto Show At that time these BlueTEC vehicles were 45 and 50 state legal respectively in the United States a 45 state vehicle does not meet the more stringent California emission standards that have also been adopted by four other states Daimler AG has entered into an agreement with Volkswagen and Audi to share BlueTEC technology with them in order to increase the Diesel passenger vehicle market in the United States 7 8 VW introduced the Jetta Clean TDI the Tiguan concept and the Touareg BlueTDI as part of the BlueTec licensing program The Jetta and the Tiguan use NOx adsorbers while the Touareg uses a Selective Catalytic Reduction catalytic converter citation needed In August 2007 VW Group announced that cooperation on BlueTEC with Daimler AG would end The reasoning for this change is due to the recognition of the VW TDI branding VW did not want to use a competitor s branding for a product they would introduce into the market 9 VW developed their own system but it failed and they re programmed the engine control to show false values during pollution tests 10 11 12 By 2010 a BlueTEC version of the Mercedes Sprinter was released The BlueTEC systems allowed the elimination of much of the EGR in that vehicle s engine which as a result gives 188 horsepower 140 kilowatts compared to the non BlueTec engine s 154 horsepower 115 kilowatts 13 Rationale EditThe BlueTEC system was created because diesel engines while more fuel efficient than gasoline engines operate at lean air fuel ratios preventing them from implementing the highly efficient three way catalysts employed for NOx conversion in gasoline engines which operate at stoichiometric air fuel ratios Limiting NOx by use of engine controls alone is possible but requires a significant penalty to fuel economy Tier 2 regulations in the US are 0 07 grams per mile of NOx which is of the 0 40 limit in the European Union 14 citation needed Process EditThe emissions system works in a series of steps A diesel oxidation catalyst reduces the amounts of carbon monoxide CO and hydrocarbons HC released from the exhaust A DeNOx catalytic converter begins a preliminary removal of oxides of nitrogen A particulate filter traps and stores soot particles burning them off when the filter gets full If the above are not sufficient to meet the prevailing emissions regulations a Selective Catalytic Reduction SCR catalytic converter will convert the remaining nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and water so called diesel exhaust fluid solution of urea and water is injected into the exhaust gas stream to enable the conversion In order to prevent vehicles from breaking emissions regulations the engine may go into a limp home mode if the DEF tank is depleted drivers are instructed to keep the tank refilled as necessary Some commercial vehicles are equipped with a request or inhibit switch which allows the DEF injection to be postponed as it can reduce power output and increase temperatures temporarily if the vehicle is climbing a grade for example it may be necessary to delay the cycle Emissions defeat device allegations EditThe Netherlands official automobile inspector TNO on behalf of the Dutch Minister of the Environment conducted an on road test of a C Class Mercedes C220 CDi BlueTec diesel and determined it emitted more than 40 times the amount of cancer causing NOx than in the lab test 15 The tests were done at temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius 50 F Mercedes says it is permissible for the BlueTec engine to emit 40 times more NOx when the temperature is less than 10 C 50 F 16 As of April 22 2016 Mercedes Benz USA disclosed it is under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential discrepancies over its diesel emissions certifications according to a Daimler statement The DOJ effectively told MBUSA to begin an internal investigation to review its certification and admissions process related to exhaust emissions in the United States Daimler said The company has agreed to cooperate fully with the DOJ 17 In Feb 2018 German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that US authorities investigating Mercedes have discovered that its vehicles are equipped with illegal software to help them pass United States stringent emission tests The claimed defeat devices include a Bit 15 mode to switch off emissions after 16 miles of driving the length of an official U S emissions test and Slipguard which tries to directly determine if the car is being tested based on speed and acceleration profiles Bild am Sonntag said it found emails from Daimler engineers questioning whether those functions were legal 18 19 20 References Edit Ward s Announces 10 Best Engines Winners for 2007 Ward s AutoWorld WardsAuto com 2006 12 05 Archived from the original on 2009 07 22 Retrieved 2009 07 25 Ward s 10 Best Engines Winners Reflect Fuel Economy Focus 2008 Ward s AutoWorld WardsAuto com 2007 12 13 Archived from the original on 2008 08 21 Retrieved 2017 03 06 Harris Andrew M 18 February 2016 Mercedes Faces Lawsuit Over BlueTec Clean Diesel Emissions Bloomberg News Retrieved 8 December 2016 Teichert Erica 6 December 2016 U S judge throws out emissions fraud lawsuit against Mercedes Reuters Retrieved 8 December 2016 Home MB BlueTEC Settlement www mbbluetecsettlement com Retrieved 28 September 2022 Home Kalra v Mercedes Benz Canada Inc www bluetecsettlement ca Retrieved 28 September 2022 2008 VW Jetta TDi coming with BlueTec and 50 state emissions The future demands more environmentally friendly technologies Archived from the original on 2015 10 06 Daimler verliert Patentstreit um Abgastechnik Faz net Ingenieure gestehen Installation von Manipulations Software bild de Ewing Jack 2015 10 04 Volkswagen Engine Rigging Scheme Said to Have Begun in 2008 The New York Times William Boston 5 October 2015 Volkswagen Emissions Investigation Zeroes In on Two Engineers WSJ Mercedes to bring Bluetec diesel to European market Sprinters by 2012 but we get it first Apr 20 2010 Light Duty Vehicles Light Duty Trucks and Medium Duty Passenger Vehicles Tier 2 Exhaust Emission Standards and Implementation Schedule PDF EPA 420 B 16 015 Environmental Protection Agency March 2016 permanent dead link http publications tno nl publication 34616868 a1Ug1a TNO 2015 R10702 pdf bare URL PDF Traufetter Gerald 2 February 2016 Mercedes Benz C Klasse unter Manipulationsverdacht Der Spiegel Mercedes Benz Faces Federal Investigation over Alleged Diesel Emissions Cheats 2016 04 22 Daimler may have used software to cheat on US emissions tests Software may have helped Daimler pass U S Emissions tests Report Reuters 2018 02 18 Abgasskandal US Ermittler belasten Daimler schwer Spiegel Online 2018 02 18 External links EditThe Evolution from Diesel to BLUETEC in Depth greencarcongress com on BlueTec FactsAboutSCR com North American SCR Stakeholders Group BlueTEC I Technical Sheet ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles Transport Canada BlueTEC with AdBlue Technical Sheet ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles Transport Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BlueTEC amp oldid 1112805772, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
