U.S. proposes new fuel efficiency standards for trucks

New rules are aimed at reducing fuel costs, greenhouse gases and health impacts from emissions.    The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday released their second round of fuel economy standards for medium-and-heavy duty commercial vehicles.
   The proposed truck fuel standards are expected to lower carbon dioxide emissions by about 1 billion metric tons, cut fuel costs by about $170 billion and reduce oil consumption by up to 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program.
   “Once upon a time, to be pro-environment you had to be anti-big-vehicles. This rule will change that,” said U.S Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “In fact, these efficiency standards are good for the environment – and the economy. When trucks use less fuel, shipping costs go down. It’s good news all around, especially for anyone with an online shopping habit.”
   According to the government, medium and heavy-duty vehicles account for 5 percent of vehicles on the road, but contribute about 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and fuel usage in the transportation sector, which accounts for almost 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the country overall.
   The government said truck owners buying a 2027 model year vehicle would recoup their investment the upgraded technology in two years through fuel savings.
The proposed 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. They would achieve up to 24 percent lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption than an equivalent tractor in 2018, based on the fully phased-in standards for the tractor alone in a tractor-trailer vehicle.
   The proposed rules do not mandate the use of specific technologies, but rather establish standards that can be met through a range of technology options, including improved transmissions, engine combustion optimization, aerodynamic improvements and low-rolling resistance tires.
   The Obama administration previously implemented fuel efficiency and greenhouse emission standards for heavy duty trucks made between model years 2014 and 2018.
   The agencies are also proposing efficiency standards for trailers for the first time. Aerodynamic devices, light weight construction and self-inflating tires can significantly reduce total fuel consumption by tractor-trailers, the agencies said.
   The American Trucking Associations, which has worked with the agencies during drafting of both rule phases, said it supports the proposed standards, but cautioned that they may result in certain technologies being used on vehicles before they can be fully tested.
   The trade association said the proposed rule meets 14 of its 15 criteria for the second phase fuel standards.
   “We believe this rule could result in the deployment of certain technologies that do not fully recognize the diversity of our industry and could prove to be unreliable. This unreliability could slow not only adoption of these technologies, but the environmental benefits they aim to create,” Glenn Kedzie, the ATA’s vice president for energy and environment, said in a statement. “To prevent this, truck and engine manufacturers will need adequate time to develop solutions to meet these new standards.”
   Fuel is a trucking fleet’s first or second largest operating expense. In 2014, motor carriers spent almost $150 billion on diesel fuel, according to the ATA.
   The public comment period for the new proposed fuel standards is open for 60 days.