What is this world coming too... Sterling is shutting down in 2010, and Cat is outtie too.

 

So, let's summarize, based on the 2007 emissions standards. These will only get worse for 2010:

* Fuel is too expensive
"Solution:" Mandate ultra-low sulphur diesel to ensure we pay even more per gallon. The government was talking about an 8-12 cent increase per gallon. Where I live (Florida), prices shot up $.50-$1.00 per gallon relative to gasoline. With the huge price increases for both types of fuel, it's hard to tell how much was due to ULSD -- but before ULSD, diesel was slightly cheaper than gasoline; now it's substantially more expensive.

* Crude oil is a limited resource
"Solution:" Mandate engines that emit 10% less exhaust per volume of fuel burned. Don't talk about the fact that all the horsepower lost to run the oversized cooling systems required for EGR, the added backpressure from oxidizing cats and particulate traps etc means you're burning 15% more fuel.

* Trucks are too expensive
"Solution:" Let's add $10,000 in upfront costs to pay for ACERT, EGR, DPF etc. And that's not counting increased maintenance, with fleet owners claiming maintenance costs for 2007 and newer engines are way up compared to pre-07 and especially pre-02 emissions engines.

* The economy is hurting
"Solution:" Let's force the best onroad engine manufacturer out of the market. Once they concentrate on off-road engines only, we'll squeeze them on off-road emissions as well and see if we can't kill the company entirely!

I guess you could say I'm disgusted. But "disgusted" doesn't begin to cover it.

Disclaimer: This is a rant, not scientific research. I don't have sources for most of my figures above. But feel free to add some.

 

Well since that statement is a matter of opinion I won't really disagree with you. Guy I work with worked for Cat for a lot of years. According to him the only company that makes engines is CAT. I swear the guy bleeds yellow. We work with industrial engines and it always fun to go a couple rounds with him on slow speeds Vs. high speeds. I don't really care either way but its fun to push his buttons.

Really the decision makes a lot of sense because on road engines are only a small part of Cat's business. They make a lot more industial and off-road engines than they do OTR. If I were them I would probably drop it too. Its a shame but such is life.

 

It is indeed a matter of opinion, and I certainly understand the business decision. I think, however, it's fair to say that they would've stayed in the market if the government's emissions initiatives hadn't made it unsustainable.

Regardless of one's engine preference, however, losing a major player usually isn't good for competition or innovation in any market.

 

I agree there. Competing engine manufacturers are always good for the end user because the engines are better and cheaper.

How many independent engine manuf. are left? Cummins and Detroit? or is Detroit no more? I heard they were having a hard time with the emissions as well but I didn' really research it.

 

I wish they would they where a good engine