Heavy-Duty Emissions Standards – Missed Opportunity?

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced final national greenhouse gas pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles covering model years 2027 through 2032 – the ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3.’ Heavy-duty vehicles account for 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, which is itself the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. It is not without its critics – not the usual anti-environment Republican party, but more rational, reasonable and thoughtful organizations that AutoInformed covers in its pursuit of intelligent life on earth. (AutoInformed.com on Greenhouse Gas Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles Set)

“While many states already have policies ensuring more rapid adoption of electric trucks than these standards envision, the rules will help ramp up adoption nationwide. Residents living near trucking corridors in states that have not acted will particularly benefit from reduced pollution thanks to these standards,” said the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)*

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“The final rule also leaves more work to be done, and state legislatures should spur use of electric and other zero-emission trucks by adopting the Advanced Clean Truck rule. By delaying the final standards for sleeper cabs until model year 2030 vehicles, EPA missed out on the additional climate and health benefits that would have started accruing much earlier from some of the highest-polluting vehicles on the roads.