In Düsseldorf, Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer and NRW Environment Minister Ursula Heinen-Esser had the latest generation of SCR retrofit technology with active thermal management from HJS explained to them in detail in a real-life installation. The occasion was perfect – the presentation of the Düsseldorf Rheinbahn’s package of measures to reduce real-world emissions.
- HJS and Rheinbahn realize environmentally friendly buses
- Older buses receive the Euro VI emission level
- Andreas Scheuer: Retrofitting buses makes sense
Clean buses, clean cities – retrofitting buses makes sense
“This will significantly improve the air in Düsseldorf,” said Minister Scheuer on Friday (20.07.2018) on Burgplatz in Düsseldorf: “Our clear goal is: no general driving bans in German cities. That is why we are retrofitting where it makes sense. So not old private diesel cars, but public transport buses that cover thousands of kilometers in city centres every day.” For this reason, the German government is supporting transport companies in making their fleets more environmentally friendly by retrofitting exhaust aftertreatment systems.
Why retrofitting is effective
HJS company owner Hermann Josef Schulte explained in Düsseldorf how the effectiveness of the retrofit is ensured: “The retrofitting of the buses with HJS technology is based on SCRT® technology as used in new Euro VI buses. To convert the nitrogen oxides, the fuel AdBlue® is added to the exhaust gas. This reacts with the nitrogen oxides to form harmless nitrogen and water vapor. However, the system requires a certain temperature for this, which is not always safely achieved, especially in real city operation of buses. Vehicle manufacturers solve this problem in vehicles of the Euro VI generation through engine thermal management: the engine generates the required exhaust gas temperature in a targeted manner, which is not possible in retrofitting, so we actively bring the temperature into the system. “Active thermal management from HJS uses two networked electrical actuators to ensure that the best possible NOx reduction is always achieved in the SCR catalytic converter – without influencing the engine. Through the combined use of particulate filters and SCR technology with active thermal management, HJS guarantees maximum exhaust gas purification. “We have property rights to this – and as a medium-sized company, we are proud of it,” said Schulte.
An “issue close to the heart” of NRW Environment Minister
NRW Environment Minister Ursula Heinen-Esser (CDU) made it clear that “we in NRW are at the forefront of retrofitting”. She said in Düsseldorf that retrofitting was a “subject close to her heart”. She was therefore pleased about the rapid practical implementation in the area of public transport buses: “Improving air quality actually means doing something to protect the health of the population.” Rheinbahn in Düsseldorf is converting its bus fleet to the environmentally friendly Euro VI standard. The transport company aims to have retrofitted or replaced all older buses by the end of 2020.
Federal government supports retrofitting with 107 million euros
The Federal Ministry of Transport is supporting local authorities across Germany with 107 million euros so that they can retrofit their diesel buses. The funding is part of the “Clean Air” immediate action program. According to the Federal Ministry, applications have so far been received from all over Germany for almost 1,000 buses with a funding volume of around 8.5 million euros.
Systems are directly available
The system presented by HJS for the MAN bus family of the Euro V / EEV generation meets the funding guidelines published by the Federal Ministry of Transport as part of the “Clean Air Immediate Action Program” and is available immediately; further variants for other bus manufacturers will follow in the second half of the year, and Daimler/EvoBus in the short term.