Transportation and fuels: looking ahead at heavy-duty vehicles

Looking back on developments in heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) technology over the past 20–25 years, one could rightly describe them as a ‘total makeover’. The improvements are particularly obvious for exhaust emissions but also for fuel consumption, durability and safety, where progress has been substantial. Improvements in diesel fuel quality have also been an important enabler for making these steps in engine technology possible. The parallel development of engine technology and fuel quality will have to continue into the future, not only in Europe and other developed countries but also, and perhaps even more importantly, in the developing countries around the world.