BLUETEC: the world's clean diesel engines

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The world's most environmentally friendly diesel drive systems go by the name of BLUETEC. Developed by Mercedes-Benz, this technology makes the diesel engine as clean as the gasoline engine and even complies with strict US emissions standards (Bin 5, ULEV). BLUETEC combines optimized combustion with special exhaust gas aftertreatment, known as selective catalytic reduction (SCR). With the aid of ammonia, it converts toxic nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. This modular technology makes use of two different catalyst systems which either create the ammonia themselves or work with an odorless carbamide solution (AdBlue). As such, BLUETEC is ideally suited to every type of vehicle, from the passenger car right up to the heavy truck.

Enlarge	World debut in California The E 320 BlueTEC was the first diesel vehicle in the world to fulfill California's strict exhaust emissions standards. In the meantime its modular exhaust treatment system has also become available for the R, ML, and GL-Class.
Enlarge	Commercial vehicles with significant environmental benefits Since the market launch of BlueTec in 2005, more than 210,000 trucks and buses equipped with this technology have been put on the road. Since this technology noticeably reduces diesel consumption in commercial vehicles, to date it has helped to spare the environment from more than two million tons of CO2.
Enlarge	Step by step With BLUETEC, several catalytic converters are employed in sequence in the exhaust line. Initially they reduce carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, then soot particles and finally nitrogen oxides.