Caterpillar receives EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Award

The Caterpillar D7E electric drive track-type tractor is recognized for its emission reductions, efficiency gains, and overall innovative technology.

By Control Engineering Staff May 18, 2009

Caterpillar Inc. has been awarded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Air Excellence Award for its D7E track-type tractor with electric drive . The company says the D7E’s electric drive system is the first of its kind in this application, designed to maximize efficiency and productivity while conserving natural resources.The diesel-electric drive technology uses a diesel engine to drive an electric

Caterpillar’s D7E bulldozer features diesel-electric drive technology. Source: Design News .

generator that powers two AC electric drive motors. The D7E track-type tractor (bulldozer) is said to increase dozing efficiency by 25%, reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 30%, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The total emissions reductions, from productivity increase and fuel savings, per hour are said to be: 10% for CO (carbon monoxide), 20% for NOx (nitric oxide) and HC (hydrocarbons), 51% for PM (particulate matter) and 23% for CO2 (carbon dioxide).The Clean Air Excellence Award was established in 2000 at the recommendation of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. It annually recognizes and honors outstanding innovative efforts to help make progress in achieving cleaner air. Award-winning entries must directly or indirectly reduce pollutant emissions, demonstrate innovation, offer sustainable outcomes and provide a model for others to follow.

– Edited by David Greenfield , editorial director

Control Engineering News Desk

Register here .