The freight transport sector faces the challenge of reducing its polluting emissions and complying with current environmental regulations.
In this “green” roadmap, Cummins announced the incorporation of its X15 Euro VI engine , which, according to the company, emits up to five times less nitrogen oxides (NOx) compared to previous technologies and improves fuel efficiency by 5 percent .
Compliance with environmental regulations not only involves the adoption of new technologies, but also a significant investment for transporters.
Jorge Machuca , leader of the Cummins engine segment for Mexico and Latin America, acknowledged this challenge by pointing out that the industry is at “a turning point that requires the adaptation of new technologies within operations.”
He added that while these investments may represent a challenge, they can also translate into economic benefits due to the lower fuel consumption of the new engines.
The transition towards more efficient engines responds to the need to reduce the environmental impact of transport, a sector responsible for more than 20% of global CO2 emissions , according to data from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) .
Along these lines, Leticia Pineda, leader for Mexico and Canada of the ICCT, explained during the workshop called “Towards the electrification of transport in Mexico” that land transport, including cargo trucks, “is one of the main sectors that use fuels”, so advancing in efficiency and reducing emissions is crucial.
Pineda also mentioned that one of the strategies to reduce emissions from the transportation sector was to improve vehicle technology , such as engines with lower fuel consumption.
One of the key aspects of Euro VI regulations is the improvement in fuel efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to Cummins, the X15 Euro VI incorporates a more efficient selective catalytic reducer (SCR) and a high-capacity, lighter diesel particulate filter (DPF) , which contributes to reducing diesel consumption and polluting emissions.
Mexico is moving forward in adopting stricter environmental regulations for cargo transportation, in line with international standards. However, for the ICCT specialist, compliance with these regulations implies a balance between investment, operational efficiency and sustainability, a challenge that transporters and manufacturers will have to face in the coming years.
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