Volkswagen Go To Top Of The Green Class With Blue Crafter
The new Volkswagen Crafter Euro V BlueTDI range has been refined to make the ride both quieter and smoother. Similarly the fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions have also seen a vast improvement, not only meeting but exceeding the latest Euro V standards and saving on running costs by over seven per cent with mpg rising from 32.1 to 34.4mpg.
As a result, the new VW Crafter range has achieved certification as an EEV (Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle) for meeting the most exacting European exhaust standard for commercial vehicles. What’s more, in addition to its green credentials and 13.6% increased torque, any Volkswagen Crafter Euro V models registered in the UK before the end of 2010 qualify for a reduced road tax (RFL), which will save the owner £60 per year, for the entire lifetime of the vehice.
A combination of improvements have allowed the new Crafter panel, chassis and double cab vans achieve such recognition. Including in these alterations are a modified DPF (Diesel Particular Filter), enhanced BlueTDI common rail, direct injection diesel engines and refinements used on Volkswagen’s latest BlueMotion models. There is also a new manual gearbox, equipped with revised, longer ratios for fifth and sixth gears and is now capable of more efficient changes.
NOx reduction is achieved thanks to addition for the first time of an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalytic converter together with an additive, the synthetically-produced, water-based solution containing 32.5 per cent urea, AdBlue®. ‘Selective’ refers to the way the catalytic converter selectively converts NOx components in the exhaust system into nitrogen and water without producing undesirable by-products.
Stored in an auxiliary tank, the AdBlue® solution is continuously sprayed into the exhaust gas, upstream of the SCR catalytic converter. The rate of spray is metered via engine management according to the mass flow rate of the exhaust gas using an NOx sensor downstream of the SCR catalytic converter. Atomised into a fine vapour through a screen, the urea in the AdBlue® is converted in the hot exhaust gas upstream of the catalytic converter, reacting with the nitrogen oxides and splitting them into nitrogen and water.
The 25-30 litre AdBlue® tank will be refilled free of charge by the Volkswagen Van Centre network and authorised repairers during the first three years. AdBlue® is also widely available at many filling stations as it is already used by HGVs.
Simon Elliott, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: ‘The Crafter is the largest van in our range. We’re delighted to have improved fuel consumption and reduced running costs, and made it one of the most environmentally friendly vehicles in its class.’
The Volkswagen Crafter Euro V models are available to order now.
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