EPA, DOT Set Truck Rules for Greenhouse Gases, Efficiency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have finalized big truck rules that would eventually improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon pollution.

It’s long overdue.

The goal is to reduce the negative effects of climate change, help U.S. energy security and prompt manufacturing innovation. Vehicles and engines are covered for model year 2018 and beyond. When adopted, the U.S. will have the most stringent truck emissions rules in the world.

The final standards are predicted to lower CO₂ emissions by approximately 1.1 billion metric tons, save vehicle owners fuel costs of ~$170 billion, and reduce oil consumption by up to two billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program. EPA and NHTSA have extended the comment period to October 1, 2015, but initial reactions indicate broad agreement with the regulations

The Phase 2 proposal responds to a President Obama directive to develop new GHG and fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks that reach well into the next decade.

“While today’s fuel prices are more than 50% lower than those we experienced in 2008, fuel is still one of the top two operating expenses for most trucking companies,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear – the industry’s largest trade association.

“That’s why our industry has worked closely with both the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the past three-and-a-half years to ensure these fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards took into account the wide diversity of equipment and operations across the trucking sector,” said Spear

Key to the standards is a 50-state approach. The new truck standards harmonize EPA and NHTSA standards. Moreover, the agencies have worked closely with the State of California’s Air Resources Board in developing these proposed standards. All three agencies are said to be committed to the final goal of a single national program that would allow manufacturers to continue to build a single fleet of vehicles and engines.

Payback Periods

The Agencies say the typical buyer of a new long-haul truck in 2027 would recoup the extra cost of the technology in under two years through fuel savings. After that point, it’s money in the owner’s pocket. When these fuel savings bring down the costs of transporting goods, consumers can save money as well.

“There are questions that need to be examined, such as the validation of California’s ozone modeling, the best ways to incentivize the adoption of existing lower emitting technology, and the potential improvement of emission testing protocols,” said Jed Mandel, president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA).