Faurecia : introduces world’s first Gasoline Particulate Filter for passenger vehicles

Shanghai (China) / Nanterre (France), April 20, 2015

Faurecia, one of the world's largest automotive equipment suppliers, today introduced the world's first gasoline particulate filter (GPF), designed to help passenger vehicles meet strict new regulations in China and Europe. While the diesel particulate filter (DPF) has long been available to remove soot and other particulates from diesel engines, the GPF is designed specifically for gasoline engines, principally those employing direct- injection systems.
Especially when coupled with turbocharging, direct injection is a highly efficient way to reduce CO2 emissions. With direct injection, however, the fuel has less time to mix with air, and this incomplete mixing leads to particulate emissions that are much higher than those associated with port-injection technology.
Euro 6.c standards for 2017 require a tenfold reduction in the number of gasoline-generated particulates emitted per kilometer, compared with Euro 6.b regulations. Similar legislation being discussed in China under Beijing 6 rules tightens restrictions on gasoline particulates in two steps, taking effect in 2017 and 2020. In the United States, the mass of particulates is subject to ongoing sets of restrictions.
"Faurecia has designed the Gasoline Particulate Filter in direct response to the industry's need to dramatically reduce particulate emissions from direct injection gasoline passenger vehicles," said Luc Herbin, Vice- President R&D of Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies. "It works in conjunction with a three-way catalyst that transforms carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides into harmless molecules. The GPF extends emissions control to particulates by using a synthetic ceramic substrate to capture and burn off particles, with no risk of clogging. This new technology is an important aspect of Faurecia's air quality strategy for our offerings in China and across the globe."
While Diesel Particulate Filters are made of silicon carbide, the gasoline particulate filter substrate is cordierite. Particulates-mainly black carbon-are mechanically deposited on the filter. When the driver removes his foot from the accelerator pedal, fresh air moves through the combustion chamber, and the hot air is used in burning the particulates off the filter.
The GPF can be applied to all gasoline-powered cars and trucks and is likely to become standard equipment. It is designed to last for the life of the vehicle. Faurecia has been producing the GPF since 2014 for a premium vehicle manufactured by a major European automaker. Now Faurecia is making this latest emissions control technology available across the automotive industry for all types of vehicles.

Faurecia is one of the world's largest automotive equipment suppliers in four activities: Automotive Seating, Emissions Control

Technologies, Interior Systems and Automotive Exteriors. In 2014, the Group posted total sales of €18.8 billion. At December 31,

2014, Faurecia employed 100,000 people in 34 countries at 330 sites and 30 R&D centers. Faurecia is listed on the NYSE Euronext

Paris stock exchange and trades in the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) market. For more information, visit: www.faurecia.com

Media contact:Olivier Le Friec

Head of Media Relations

Tel: +33 1 72 36 72 58

Cell: +33 6 76 87 30 17 olivier.lefriec@faurecia.com

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