Expertise of the world leader in emissions control
One in four vehicles around the world is fitted with a Faurecia exhaust system. Faurecia develops and produces entire exhaust systems, from the manifold to the tail pipe. The group is the joint brains behind the Diesel Particulate Filter with PSA, contributing to the development of "clean" cars by treating pollutants (e.g. nitrogen oxides) and recovering energy.
Particles, nitrogen oxides: second-guessing anti-pollution standards
The Euro 5 standard lowers the threshold for soot particle emissions from Diesel engines by 80%, which calls for the use of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Faurecia, co-inventor of the DPF with PSA Peugeot-Citroën, is currently the world's number one in this market. This market can only grow: manufacturers have until 2011 to fit their models with a solution to reduce the level of particles, such as with a DPF.
The Euro 6 standard comes into force in 2014 and will require a drastic reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx), pollutant gases. American standard Tier2Bin5 is even more stringent. This represents a new opportunity for Faurecia with its expertise in two DeNOx solutions - Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and NOx traps. In terms of SCR, Faurecia's R&D center has developed a solution that homogenizes the liquid urea injected with the exhaust gases. The aim is to optimize NOx neutralization.
Weight reduction and heat recovery to reduce CO2 emissions
Lowering emissions of CO2 greenhouse gases involves reducing fuel consumption and therefore lightening the exhaust system. In the space of five years, Faurecia has reduced the average weight of exhaust systems by 20%. The group has achieved this by re-designing the system's architecture and using new materials, such as building fabricated manifolds instead of cast iron.
Weight reduction represents one of the key research areas as part of the Light Attitude approach.
Faurecia's R&D center also developed an exhaust heat recovery system in partnership with PSA. This option uses the heat from the engine to warm up the cabin and is available on the Citroën C4 Picasso in cold countries. A close look is also being taken at energy recovery for hybrid cars.
Faurecia is actually involved in the "Air Loop"(Boucle d’Air) Center of Competitive Excellence in France's Franche-Comté region, which is dedicated to environmentally-friendly exhaust systems.
End-to-end expertise in emissions control issues
Faurecia provides solutions for treating vehicles' acoustic emissions, by looking to reduce the level of noise and creating the "sound signature" sought after by the manufacturer.
The group is also aiming to build durable exhaust systems by improving their resistance to vibrations, thermo-mechanical shocks and internal / external corrosion.