Caterpillar to phase out bridge engines

Sep 22, 2003 12:00 PM

Caterpillar Inc. officials said the company would phase out its “bridge” engines by year’s end and roll out heavy-duty versions of its new “Acert” engines starting next month.

Stopping sales of the bridge engine would mean Caterpillar would no longer have to pay penalties to the Environmental Protection Agency because the bridge engine’s exhaust emissions exceed levels that went into effect in October 2002.

“As the Acert engines are certified and we start production, the non-compliance penalties [from EPA] will cease as the bridge engines phase out,” company spokesman Carl Volz said.