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SCR catalytic converters for diesel vehicles

Why I Rely on AdBlue®

Cyrill Hugi
Founder, Chief Executive Officer

Clarification: I am not green. Would it be better if our cars and lorries weren't powered by diesel? Sure. But as long as we still have diesel engines on our roads, they will lead to poor air quality. Especially those without SCR catalytic converters. I want to do something about that.

Cyrill Hugi, CEO of the enespa Group, kneels in front of a pallet of plastic containers. They contain freshly produced AdBlue, ready to be dispatched by lorry.
Circular economy using the example of enespa's AdBlue® production plastic containers are taken back and returned to the plastic cycle with the help of chemical recycling. In the picture, Cyrill Hugi (Chief Executive Officer)
Cyrill Hugi, CEO of the enespa Group, kneels in front of a pallet of plastic containers. They contain freshly produced AdBlue, ready to be dispatched by lorry.
Circular economy using the example of enespa's AdBlue® production plastic containers are taken back and returned to the plastic cycle with the help of chemical recycling. In the picture, Cyrill Hugi (Chief Executive Officer)

Bad image of diesel?

I am a trained agricultural machinery mechanic and I worked as a lorry driver. Later, I also worked for VW in the commercial vehicle division. Large machines fascinate me. What they all have in common is that they all run on diesel. A fuel that is not quite as bad as its reputation. Petrol engines do even worse when it comes to particulate matter. The big problem with diesel: nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Therefore AdBlue®.

Call for clean air

The problem is well known and led to the EURO 6 emissions standard, which has also applied to newly registered commercial vehicles in Switzerland since 2014. Politicians have thus taken a direction that will also lead to further restrictions in private transport. In cities, it is not the ‘heavy goods vehicles’, i.e. buses, lorries and delivery vans, but diesel cars that are considered the main source of harmful nitrogen oxide. According to EMPA, they cause 65% of direct NO2-emissions of road traffic.

Déjà vu

Dirty air is a recurring theme. Perhaps you can still remember the car stickers in the 1990s. Proud car drivers had them stuck to the rear window: "I drive with a catalytic converter!" With stricter laws and greater awareness about particulate matter, particulate filters were added from 2013. Now they are SCR catalytic converters , which neutralise the nitrogen dioxide, in the best case up to 98%, with the addition of a urea solution (AdBlue® technology).

AdBlue® for research

The advantages of AdBlue® technology are obvious: reduction of harmful emissions, compliance with emissions standards. But there are also disadvantages: It has to be topped up regularly and that costs money. AdBlue® has long since become indispensable in vans and lorries. enespa wants to serve the market with its own production and help to ensure that nitrogen dioxide is reduced to a minimum.

We do not strive to maximise profits: the income from AdBlue® production flows into our research and development.

AdBlue® consists of 32.5% urea and 67.5% demineralised water. While urea is one of the most important fertilisers worldwide, its use in exhaust technology is comparatively low. The market volume and price of AdBlue® fluctuate. Demand is increasing. We offer AdBlue® not only because we want to reduce nitrogen dioxide, but also because part of the sales revenue flows directly into our Research and development.

The next step

To be honest, diesel engines will never really be "clean". But we will still be driving our lorries and cars for some time to come. Even if the environmental aspect of your diesel vehicle is not a priority, stricter standards are already being planned. If you want to be ready for the next step, you have to rely on AdBlue®. Just like me.

PS: If you purchase from us, you support our research and development in the field of chemical recycling of plastics.

Portrait of Cyrill Hugi
Author

Cyrill Hugi

Portrait of Cyrill Hugi
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Cyrill Hugi's passion for technology has never wavered since his first apprenticeship. Various international training programmes have seen him travel as far as the USA. His professional career has taken him to Italy and Germany, where he previously held management positions in major global corporations in the commercial vehicle sector. Cyrill Hugi fulfilled a dream when he founded enespa ag. With the support of his team and visionary investors, he strives to "make the impossible possible". The outcome is circular economy solutions aimed at protecting nature, which is something very close to his heart.
info@enespa.com
+41 71 788 33 88

FAQ about AdBlue®

Usually not. The vehicle's programming normally prevents the engine from being started with an empty AdBlue® tank. Bypassing the programming is technically possible, but illegal.
Trucks consume approx. 1.5 litres of AdBlue® per 100 km. For cars, manufacturers calculate around 0.1 litres of AdBlue® per 100 km. It also depends on the vehicle and the driving style. One thing is certain: the AdBlue® tank only needs to be topped up occasionally.

Most cars consume 1 to 1.5 litres of AdBlue® per 1,000 km. For every 100 litres of diesel, approx. 5 litres of AdBlue® are used.

The prices vary greatly. AdBlue® is generally cheaper at petrol stations and garages. The price ranges from around 90 cents to 4 euros per litre in Germany. In Switzerland, a litre costs between 50 centimes and 3 francs.
Depending on the tuning of the exhaust system and the operating conditions, the AdBlue® tanks need to be filled every 5,000 to 15,000 km in a lorry. According to the manufacturer, a car needs topping up every 20,000 to 30,000 kilometres.
The purpose of the additive is to reduce pollutant emissions, which means that AdBlue® has a positive impact on the environment (Euro 6 emissions standard). The disadvantage is that AdBlue® can freeze at very low temperatures (from -11°C), causing damage to the system.

The electronic display of the AdBlue® tank normally indicates that the level is low for the first time at a remaining range of 2,400 kilometres. A second message appears at approximately 1,600 kilometres. You should endeavour to fill the AdBlue® tank as soon as possible. If the range falls below 1,000 kilometres, the engine can no longer be started. In many vehicles, such as the

AdBlue® has no direct effect on the engine.

The aqueous solution of AdBlue®, which consists of 32.5 % high-purity urea and 67.5 % demineralised water, has a slight bluish tint. This colour serves as a visual identifier to ensure that the correct additive is used. AdBlue® is a trade mark owned by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).

Diesel vehicles that use AdBlue® have a separate tank intended for the additive. Modern vehicles have a warning display that indicates when the AdBlue® supply is running low.

The greatest possible damage occurs when you switch on the engine. AdBlue® then enters the fuel system. There, the urea attacks the metal: Steel, iron, brass, aluminium and zinc can corrode.

The use of AdBlue® reduces nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from a diesel engine. In the very best case, this can be up to 98%.
Only diesel vehicles with a so-called SCR catalytic converter need AdBlue®. As a rule of thumb, the technology is used in passenger cars above the small car class. The reason for this is the mandatory Euro 6 emissions standard, which must be met. If you are in any doubt as to whether your car is affected, open the tank flap. You will recognise the Adblue® tank nozzle next to the diesel tank nozzle. However, the Adblue® filler neck may also be located in the spare wheel well. There is also an Adblue® display in the cockpit and an entry in the vehicle documents.
AdBlue® is a non-toxic, transparent liquid. Nevertheless, it should be washed off quickly if it comes into contact with the skin in order to prevent skin irritation.
AdBlue® will keep for one year in a sealed canister at temperatures between 0 and 30°C. The canister should be stored in a dark and well-ventilated place. AdBlue® can freeze at temperatures below -11°C.
Management Group

enespa Group
Schäfligasse 1
CH-9050 Appenzell

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