Fleet News EPA and NHTSA Unveil Truck Standards Aimed At Reducing Fuel Consumption

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have jointly proposed long-term standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles aimed at dramatically lowering CO2 emissions. The proposed standards mandate freight-hauling tractor-trailers to reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by 24% while vocational vehicles, such as pickup trucks and light vans, must become 16% more efficient.

According to the two agencies, the environmentally friendly standards would improve fuel efficiency resulting in approximately $170 billion savings in cost, while and reducing oil consumption by up to 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program. The total oil savings under the program would be greater than a year's worth of imports from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

If approved, the program would impact nearly every link in the supply chain for vending and coin-op business, from shipping via large long-haul vehicles to route trucks and vans. Although greeted with varying degrees of skepticism, the agencies remain upbeat regarding the proposed standards that would reduce fuel consumption.

"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."

The product of three years of scientific testing and research, the proposed vehicle and engine performance standards would cover model years 2021-2027, and apply to semi-trucks, large pickup trucks and vans, as well as all types and sizes of buses and work trucks. They would achieve up to 24% lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption than equivalent vehicles in 2018.

The proposal builds on standards previously put in place for light-duty vehicles, which are projected to reduce carbon pollution by 6 billion tons over the lifetime of vehicles, double fuel economy by 2025 and save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump. According to several sources, these standards are already delivering savings with vehicles produced 2013 achieving their highest fuel economy of all time.

As the agencies' officials noted, a high level of engagement with stakeholders will continue to be critical, as feedback will be instrumental in finalizing the standards by 2016. A public comment period will be open for 60 days following the proposal's publication in the Federal Register. In addition, NHTSA and EPA will host two public hearings.

For more details on the DOT and EPA's notice of proposed rulemaking, visit:

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-heavy-duty.htm

http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy