EPA Selects AVL for Critical Automotive Emissions Testing Initiative

PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AVL announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for critical automotive emissions testing to take place at the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

As a result of the Renewable Fuel Standard program, increased emphasis will be placed at the EPA Laboratory on testing vehicles operated on renewable fuels at both cold-temperature and high-temperature conditions. Specifically, the contract covers Sampling, Analytical and Automation Equipment for the new Cold Test and SC03 Vehicle Emissions Test Facilities.

"As a company that fully supports the Clean Air Act and the EPA's dedication to protecting our nation's air quality, we are proud to have been chosen to work on this industry-changing initiative," said Don Manvel, AVL North America Chairman and CEO.

For this initiative, the EPA selected AVL to provide their latest iGeneration technology in fully automated emission, sampling and measurements instrumentation to test a wide range of vehicles under various simulated climate scenarios (20 degrees F to 100 degrees F). These include 1,000- to 14,000-pound vehicles with single- or dual-drive axles fueled by gasoline, alcohol and other oxygenated fuels, gaseous fuels and diesel or bio-diesel fuel.

"It is significant that the EPA has established AVL's iGeneration Emission Systems as a new standard for the automotive industry in emissions testing," said Greg Hopton, President AVL Test Systems, Inc. "Especially in light of the extreme pressure OEMs are under to meet aggressive, new, federally mandated emissions and guidelines."

AVL will be providing AMAi60s for sampling and measurement of diluted and raw exhaust, a CVSi60 Constant Volume Sampler with two independent dilution tunnels for clean and dirty exhaust samples, a PSSi60 for particulate sampling, and AVL's PUMA automation system with the iGEM Vehicle Emission testing application software.

The iGeneration systems being provided by AVL will conform to the requirements of 40 CFR Part 86; Subpart B, C; and 40 CFR Subpart 600; as well as to the latest requirements of 40 CFR Part 1065.

"This decision by the EPA provides the industry with the recognition of a credible and viable alternative emission instrumentation supplier long needed in the market," said Frank Commiskey, AVL's Director of Business Development for Emission Products. "We are excited to be part of this groundbreaking initiative."

About AVL

Founded in 1948, AVL is the world's largest independent company for development, simulation and testing technology of powertrains (hybrid, combustion engines, transmission, electric drive, batteries and software) for passenger cars, trucks and large engines. AVL's North American Headquarters are located in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Michigan.  

SOURCE AVL North America