Disclosed herein is a system for reducing NOx emissions comprising a fuel tank in fluid communication with a fuel converter, wherein the fuel converter is located down stream of the fuel tank and wherein the fuel converter comprises a catalyst composition that is operative to continuously convert heavy hydrocarbon molecules having 9 or more carbon atoms per molecule into light hydrocarbon molecules having 8 or less carbon atoms per molecule; a selective catalytic reduction catalyst reactor in fluid communication with the fuel converter and located downstream of the fuel converter; and an engine in fluid communication with the fuel tank and the selective catalytic reduction catalyst reactor, wherein the engine is located downstream of the fuel tank and upstream of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst reactor.