Union of Concerned Scientists recommends 40% reduction in truck fuel use

Proposed fuel standards would cut oil use by 9 billion gallons and save truckers $30 billion in fuel costs, according to a new study by the group.    A new study from the Union of Concerned Scientists recommends the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration require new trucks to reduce fuel use by at least 40 percent when they announce heavy duty truck fuel efficiency standards this spring.
   UCS said in a statement the study shows the 40 percent target is achievable with existing technology and would reduce oil use by 9 billion gallons from shipping goods alone. This would translate into $30 billion in fuel cost savings and cut more than 110 million tons of CO2 emissions, according to the group.
   Heavy duty trucks get around 6 miles per gallon and the overall freight fleet uses 21 billion gallons of fuel a year.
   “Heavy duty trucks make up only 7 percent of the vehicles on the road, but they use a quarter of the fuel, and they’re integrated into every aspect of our economy,” said Michelle Robinson, director of the Clean Vehicles Program at UCS. “Almost everything you buy, eat, wear or live in depends on trucks at some point in the process—so everything you buy comes with a side of oil.”
   “The new standards should help protect consumers against future fuel price increases,” added Robinson. “We’ve all seen how gas price spikes affect the costs of everyday goods. This simple, doable step should help buffer against that trend.”
   Dave Cooke, UCS vehicles analyst and author of the report, said, “This is low-hanging fruit with huge potential. A new fuel-efficient truck will be more cost-effective than a conventional truck after just 18 months. Once the cost of the new technology is paid off, the average truck driver will save $30,000 a year on fuel. And a standard this strong will save America more oil every year than the entire annual production output of Alaska.”
   “With the administration developing new fuel economy standards for trucks, we have a unique opportunity to reduce both the economic impacts of our oil consumption and the vehicle emissions that contribute to climate change,” Cooke said.  “The benefits of higher standards will ripple through the economy.”
   The full UCS study, titled “Engines for Change (2015),” is available here.