CDTi Announces New Advanced Materials Technology

OXNARD, Calif., May 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:CDTI) (“CDTi” or “the Company”), a leader in advanced emission control technology, released preliminary engine and vehicle test results for its new synergized-platinum group metal (SPGM™) diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) technology. In these initial tests, CDTi’s SPGM™ DOC achieved emission control and system performance comparable to a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) catalyst product while slashing PGM usage by over 80%. The SPGM DOC technology represents another breakthrough in CDTi’s advanced materials research program aimed at significantly reducing or eliminating the need for costly PGMs in emission control catalysts.

Chris Harris, CDTi’s President and CEO, stated: “Beyond the light duty vehicle market, heavy duty DOCs are a major opportunity for our advanced materials technology. These initial engine and vehicle tests for our SPGM DOC technology are the first in a series of key development milestones. They further demonstrate our ability to invent innovative materials to create significant value propositions in a range of downstream markets. We intend to commercialize our SPGM DOC technology through OEMs and retrofit catalyst suppliers via our powder-to-coat business model as well as incorporate it into our DuraFit™ line of diesel replacement parts.”

The DOC is a major component of diesel emission control systems worldwide. Current designs are heavily reliant on high levels of platinum and palladium for conversion of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC), and for the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to feed the downstream particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction systems. OEMs spent almost $1.0 billion on PGMs for heavy duty diesel vehicle catalysts in 2012 according to information derived from Johnson Matthey PLC’s “Platinum 2013” report. CDTi estimates that the vast majority of this spend was for DOCs.

CDTi’s SPGM DOC technology is expected to be the first of many planned applications of its new powder capability. The Company has filed patents covering its SPGM DOC design that establishes a synergy between its proprietary catalytic powder and extremely low levels of PGM.

“We believe our newest proprietary materials will enable OEMs, industry coaters and other catalyst manufacturers to dramatically reduce PGM usage while meeting more stringent emission requirements. Our large and growing portfolio of low-PGM, SPGM, and zero-PGM (ZPGM™) patents underpins our advanced materials platform. We also expect to report initial vehicle test results on additional new generation catalysts, including Spinel™, in the near future,” concluded Harris.

The SPGM DOC was road-tested on an urban transit bus powered by a 2007 Cummins ISL 8.9 liter engine. It had equivalent performance to an EPA certified OEM DOC using only 1.5 grams (4.75 g/ft³) of PGM compared to the OEM catalyst’s 11.0 grams (35 g/ft³). Further benchmark testing was done at an outside facility that demonstrated the SPGM DOC had equivalent performance to the DOC in a Euro VI certified system using 38 g/ft³ (see link to chart below). In addition, an emission control system supplier evaluated CDTi’s SPGM DOC and demonstrated equivalent filter regeneration performance at just 7% of the PGM loading of its current DOC.