Clean Diesels Diesel trucks need to comply with the Clean Air Act. Diesel engines are everywhere. Farmers use diesels in the field, diesel trains transport farm products to cities where they are delivered to stores by diesel trucks that travel over roads cleared and built by diesel equipment.
People travel to shop and work on diesel buses.
The bilious smoke they emit acts as a constant reminder that diesel engines need to clean up their act, literally. That smoke is full of particles thought to be a health hazard. Argonne researchers have developed an oxygen enrichment device that reduces particulate emissions almost 60 percent while increasing engine power output. This could be the link that can help diesel engines meet federal standards for particulate and smoke emissions set by the Clean Air Act. Diesel engines' strength, reliability and efficiency also make them a candidate to run the next generation of clean, efficient cars.