The City of Quincy, Massachusetts, has launched a first-of-its-kind pilot with Boston-based clean technology company Cero Global to reduce emissions and fuel consumption across municipal diesel vehicles. The initiative positions Quincy as an early adopter of retrofit emissions-reduction technology that could offer near-term environmental and operational benefits for fleet operators nationwide.
City officials say the effort reflects both Quincy’s sustainability goals and its search for cost-effective solutions that can improve fleet performance without requiring immediate vehicle replacements. Under the leadership of Mayor Tom Koch, Quincy has continued to focus on practical, scalable approaches to reducing pollution from city operations.
“We’re always looking for ways to make Quincy greener and more efficient,” Koch said. “This partnership with Cero Global helps us reduce harmful emissions, save taxpayer dollars, and take another step toward a cleaner, healthier city.”
Cero Global’s patented technology is designed to improve combustion efficiency in internal combustion engines by reducing micro electromagnetic interference signals that reach the engine control unit—signals that can disrupt proper injection timing and contribute to incomplete combustion. By stabilizing these signals, the device can help achieve more consistent fuel burn, lowering emissions and reducing overall fuel use. The company reports that its device can cut emissions by more than 60% and improve fuel economy by 3–5%.
Cero selected Quincy as an early pilot partner in part because its CEO is based in Boston and Massachusetts enforces some of the country’s strictest vehicle emissions requirements. Discussions with Mayor Koch helped advance the partnership, aligning the project with Quincy’s goals to reduce operating costs and improve air quality for residents. The pilot will begin with 10–15 vehicles from the Department of Public Works, Fire Department, and School Department, with device installation taking place over the coming months.
During the three-month evaluation, Cero will track emissions changes using optical opacity testing equipment, gathering direct tailpipe measurements. Because the devices are currently being used in manual mode, performance results will be derived from vehicle-level emissions data rather than onboard telematics. According to Cero, fleets typically see an immediate reduction in optical opacity after installation, with additional improvements recorded over two to three months as the engine adjusts to more stable injection timing.
If the trial demonstrates meaningful reductions in emissions and fuel use, Quincy and Cero plan to explore a broader deployment over the next 6–12 months. For Cero Global, the pilot represents a milestone in showcasing how retrofit solutions can help fleets lower emissions in the near term while complementing longer-term strategies such as electrification.
“Partnering with the City of Quincy is a milestone for our mission to make cleaner, more efficient fleets accessible today,” said Brian Lee, founder and CEO of Cero Global.
