REDFORD, MI – Detroit Diesel Corporation has surpassed seven million miles of demonstrated testing on its BlueTec Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. BlueTec SCR — Daimler’s widely acclaimed technology — was selected by Detroit Diesel in 2005 to meet the upcoming stringent EPA 2010 emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks. BlueTec SCR represents the world’s latest in clean diesel engine technology.

“We started our engineering development and validation activities several years ago to optimize BlueTec SCR for the 2010 North American market,” said David Siler, director of marketing, Detroit Diesel Corporation. “We are excited about how successful we’ve been in our validation program and we feel our customers will benefit from this positive experience.”

BlueTec SCR will incorporate enhanced performance of Detroit Diesel’s recently introduced DD15 and DD13 engines, the ACRS common rail fuel system, a diesel particulate filter already in use today, as well as a new SCR NOx aftertreatment system that utilizes diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), commonly known as urea.

Detroit Diesel’s extensive validation testing isn’t complete. Its reliability test vehicle fleet is expanding monthly and will continue to log millions of miles prior to production launch in January 2010. Detroit Diesel has also conducted several rounds of vehicle validation testing under extreme operating and environmental conditions that may be experienced by the end-user, such as below-zero winter conditions in northern climates, as well as temperatures above 120 degrees in the desert regions of Arizona, Nevada, and California.

“We have leveraged our relationship with Daimler Trucks North America by jointly conducting our design, packaging, and validation testing activities,” said Rakesh Aneja, Detroit Diesel’s 2010 program manager. “This ensures that the vehicle is optimized as an integrated system with respect to lifecycle cost including fuel economy, durability, and reliability.”

Daimler’s BlueTec System is modular and will be adaptable for use in vocational applications, buses, and RVs, as well as hybrids and biodiesel powered trucks.