U.S. Tightens Emissions Standards for Trucks

trucks
Heavy-duty trucks crossing Kentucky on Interstate 65 (Photo by frankieleon)

 

WASHINGTON, DC, August 17, 2016 (ENS) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have jointly finalized standards that will govern emissions from medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks through the 2027 model year.

Announcing the new standards, the two agencies said Tuesday they will improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while supporting energy security and encouraging manufacturing innovation.

The final Phase Two standards are required by President Barack Obama’s Climate Action Plan. They respond to the President’s directive in early 2014 to develop new standards that run into the next decade.

trucks
Heavy-duty trucks crossing Kentucky on Interstate 65 (Photo by frankieleon)

The two agencies explain that the standards promote a new generation of cleaner, more fuel efficient trucks by encouraging the wider application of currently available technologies and the development of new and advanced cost-effective technologies through model year 2027.

The final Phase Two standards are expected to lower CO2 emissions by approximately 1.1 billion metric tons, save vehicle owners fuel costs of about $170 billion, and reduce oil consumption by up to two billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program. Overall, the program will provide $230 billion in net benefits to society including benefits to our climate and the public health of Americans.
These benefits outweigh costs by about an 8 to 1 ratio.

The standards are cost effective for consumers and businesses, delivering favorable payback periods for truck owners. The buyer of a new long-haul truck in 2027 would recoup the investment in fuel-efficient technology in less than two years through fuel savings.

“The actions we take today on climate change will help lessen the impacts on future generations,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

“This next phase of standards for heavy and medium duty vehicles will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while driving innovation, and will ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in developing fuel efficient technologies through the next decade and beyond,” said McCarthy.

“Today’s ambitious but achievable announcement is a huge win for the American people, giving us cleaner air, more money saved at the pump, and real benefits for consumers across the supply chain,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

“Today’s action preserves flexibility for manufacturers to deliver on these objectives through a range of innovations and technology pathways,” said Foxx.

Heavy-duty trucks are the second largest segment and collectively make up the biggest increase in the U.S. transportation sector in terms of emissions and energy use. These vehicles currently account for about 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and oil use in the U.S. transportation sector.

Globally, greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles are growing rapidly and are expected to surpass emissions from passenger vehicles by 2030.

Through the Paris Climate Agreement and discussions with other countries, the United States is working with other major economies to encourage progress on fuel economy standards, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that will improve global energy and climate security by reducing its reliance on oil.

trucks
Big rigs at the Pilot Truck Stop in Cocoa, Florida (Photo by Rusty Clark)

The product of four years of extensive testing and research and outreach to industry, environmental organizations, labor unions, and other stakeholders, the vehicle and engine performance standards would cover model years 2021-2027, and apply to semi-trucks, large pickup trucks and vans, and all types and sizes of buses and work trucks.

These standards will result in emissions reductions and fuel efficiency improvements across all of these vehicle types.

For example, when the standards are fully phased in, tractors in a tractor-trailer will achieve up to 25 percent lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel consumption than an equivalent tractor in 2018.

The agencies are also finalizing fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for trailers for the first time.

The EPA trailer standards, which exclude certain categories such as mobile homes, will begin to take effect in model year 2018 for certain trailers, while NHTSA’s standards will take effect as of 2021, with credits available for voluntary participation before then. Cost effective technologies for trailers – including aerodynamic devices, light weight construction and self-inflating tires – can significantly reduce total fuel consumption by tractor-trailers, while paying back the owners in less than two years due to the fuel saved.

Recognizing that many trailer manufacturers are small businesses, the program includes provisions that reduce burden such as a one-year delay in initial standards for small businesses and simplified certification requirements.

NHTSA and EPA have worked together to harmonize their standards under this program. The agencies have worked closely with the State of California’s Air Resources Board in developing and finalizing the standards. All three agencies are committed to the goal of setting harmonized national standards.

Throughout every stage of development, this work has benefited from a collaborative dialogue with industry, labor and environmental organizations.

Indiana-based Cummins, Inc., which designs, manufactures, distributes and services diesel and natural gas engines, says its latest generation of midrange and heavy-duty engines are ready to meet 2017 greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards.

Cummins executives say its engines will not just lower fuel consumption, but also bring enhanced performance with innovative technology to offer a new level of capability for every type of truck and bus application. Field-test drivers have reported a superior driving experience that has surpassed expectations in terms of both pulling and braking power, as well as fuel-efficiency and uptime.

“Fuel efficiency has long been a focus of our technology development. We look forward to reviewing the final rule now that it is published and working with all our stakeholders to make sure both the customer and the environment benefit from it,” said Rich Freeland, president and COO, Cummins Inc. “Cummins is ready to tackle complex climate and energy challenges. We are confident we have the engine technologies necessary to meet or exceed improvements required by the Phase 2 engine standards.”

The final rulemaking builds on the fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards already in place for model years 2014-2018, which alone will result in CO2 emissions reductions of 270 million metric tons and save vehicle owners more than $50 billion in fuel costs.

Truck sales were up in model years 2014 and 2015, the years covered under the first round of truck standards.

The rule also builds on standards that the Obama Administration has put in place for light-duty vehicles, which are projected to reduce carbon pollution by billions of tons of over the lifetime of vehicles sold, and will save consumers money at the pump.

For more details on DOT’s and EPA’s phase two greenhouse gas emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, visit: https://www3.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-heavy-duty.htm and http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2016. All rights reserved.

 

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