DOT, EPA Propose the Nation's First Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Trucks and Buses
A win for the environment, economy and energy efficiency
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced the first national standards to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and buses. This comprehensive national program is projected to reduce GHG emissions by about 250 million metric tons and save 500 million barrels of oil over the lives of the vehicles produced within the program's first five years.
"These new standards are another step in our work to develop a new generation of clean, fuel-efficient American vehicles that will improve our environment and strengthen our economy," EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. "In addition to cutting greenhouse gas pollution, greater fuel economy will shrink fuel costs for small businesses that depend on pickups and heavy duty vehicles, shipping companies and cities and towns with fleets of these vehicles. Those savings can be invested in new jobs at home, rather than heading overseas and increasing our dependence on foreign oil."
"Through new fuel-efficiency standards for trucks and buses, we will not only reduce transportation's environmental impact, we'll reduce the cost of transporting freight," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "This is a win-win-win for the environment, businesses and the American consumer."
EPA and DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are proposing new standards for three categories of heavy trucks: combination tractors, heavy-duty pickups and vans, and vocational vehicles. The categories were established to address specific challenges for manufacturers in each area. For combination tractors, the agencies are proposing engine and vehicle standards that begin in the 2014 model year and achieve up to a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel consumption by 2018 model year.
For heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, the agencies are proposing separate gasoline and diesel truck standards, which phase in starting in the 2014 model year and achieve up to a 10 percent reduction for gasoline vehicles and 15 percent reduction for diesel vehicles by 2018 model year (12 and 17 percent respectively if accounting for air conditioning leakage). Lastly, for vocational vehicles, the agencies are proposing engine and vehicle standards starting in the 2014 model year which would achieve up to a 10 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 2018 model year.
Overall, NHTSA and EPA estimate that the heavy-duty national program would provide $41 billion in net benefits over the lifetime of model year 2014 to 2018 vehicles. With the potential for significant fuel efficiency gains, ranging from seven to 20 percent, drivers and operators could expect to net significant savings over the long-term. For example, it is estimated an operator of a semi truck could pay for the technology upgrades in under a year, and save as much as $74,000 over the truck's useful life. Vehicles with lower annual miles would typically experience longer payback periods, up to four or five years, but would still reap cost-savings.
The innovative technologies fostered by this program would also yield economic benefits, enhance energy security, and improve air quality. New technologies include widespread use of aerodynamic improvements and tire rolling resistance, as well as engine and transmission upgrades.
EPA and NHTSA are providing a 60-day comment period that begins when the proposal is published in the Federal Register. The proposal and information about how to submit comments is at:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations.htm and
http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy .
As part of the process of developing this proposed rulemaking, NHTSA has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its proposed fuel efficiency standards. The draft EIS compares the environmental impacts of the agency's proposal with those of a number of regulatory alternatives. Comments may be submitted on the Draft EIS through January 3, 2011, and information on the submission of comments for this document may be found at the NHTSA web address listed above.
FIRST-EVER PROPOSED TRUCK STANDARDS ARE CRITICAL TO REDUCING U.S.OIL CONSUMPTION, WOULD SAVE TRUCK OPERATORS MONEY, SCIENCE GROUP SAYS
WASHINGTON (October 25, 2010) – Proposed fuel efficiency and global warming pollution standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks released today by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would establish the first-ever standards for these vehicles. Because trucks are among the largest fuel consumers in the country, these standards would help reduce U.S. oil dependence, cut global warming pollution, and provide significant economic benefits to truck operators and the public at large, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
"These trucks represent only 4 percent of vehicles on the road, but they consume 20 percent of the fuel," said Don Anair, a senior analyst in UCS' Clean Vehicles Program. "These first-ever standards would provide truckers with clean, fuel-saving technology that would save them money at the pump. Meanwhile, all Americans would benefit from cleaner air and less dependence on oil."
Long-haul tractor trailers – or big-rigs – consume the most fuel of all vehicle categories covered under the proposed standards and also represent the greatest opportunity for fuel savings and pollution reductions. The proposed standards would reduce fuel consumption from long-haul tractor trailers 20 percent by 2017. Unfortunately, the proposal only requires improvements to tractors – which includes the engine, transmission and cab – but does not require upgrades to trailers, which account for one third of potential big-rig fuel savings. According to a UCS analysis, efficiency improvements for both tractors and trailers could reduce fuel consumption 35 percent by 2017.
Last week, UCS released a virtual big-right truck design, called the "Convoy" that demonstrates how clean technology could reduce truck oil consumption. The design, related background information on the new standards, and an economic analysis of oil savings and job creation are available online.
President Obama called for the new truck standards in May and also ordered DOT and EPA to move forward on separate passenger vehicle standards. A joint September DOT and EPA analysis concluded that a standard of 60 miles per gallon by 2025 would save consumers the most money at the pump.
Brendan Bell, Washington Representative for UCS's Clean Vehicles Program, said the two standards together would transform the U.S. transportation sector. "The Obama administration is delivering on its promise to cut America's oil dependence," he said. "We're finally putting technology and innovation to work creating jobs, saving money at the pump, and cutting carbon pollution. Whether you make trucks, drive trucks, or just drive by them on the highway, these new standards will deliver benefits that make a difference for everyone."
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The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading U.S. science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago and Washington, D.C. For more information, go to
www.ucsusa.org.
Proposed Truck Standards a Milestone, but Some Savings Opportunities Left Untapped
Washington, D.C. (October 25, 2010): Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation proposed the first-ever fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The affected vehicles, ranging from large pickup trucks to big rigs, today consume about 2.5 million barrels of oil per day, one-fifth of total transportation oil use in the U.S.
ACEEE applauded the agencies tackling this essential but complex task. "Setting fuel efficiency standards for trucks is a crucial step toward saving oil and reducing emissions from the transportation sector. And it will help keep down the price of goods that move by truck," said Therese Langer, Director of ACEEE's Transportation Program.
Nonetheless, Langer noted: "The proposal misses some important opportunities to save fuel." A National Academy of Sciences study published earlier this year shows how long-haul tractor-trailers (the biggest diesel users) could reduce their fuel consumption by at least 35 percent by 2017, using measures that would pay for themselves in two years. Yet the proposed rule calls for no more than 20 percent savings. Trailers are not covered by the rule, even though improving trailers' aerodynamics and tires alone could reduce fuel use by 10 percent.
In addition, said Langer, "the program needs to do more to draw advanced technologies into the market." Especially for "vocational" trucks such as refuse trucks, delivery vans, utility trucks, and school buses, the standards should ensure that companies using newer technologies, from advanced transmissions to hybrid drive trains, can readily get credit for doing so. Moreover, the standards should set the efficiency bar high enough that the entire industry will start using these technologies sooner rather than later. The proposed standards would require little of the "vocational" trucks, however, and as a result would not do much to accelerate the uptake of advanced technologies. Similarly, while engine improvements anticipated later in this decade could achieve fuel savings in excess of ten percent, the proposal calls for only six percent.
"U.S. companies are leaders in advanced truck and engine technologies," said Langer. "A strengthened final rule can help them consolidate that advantage and lead in the global market."
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About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. 2010 marks ACEEE's 30th anniversary as an organization. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, contact ACEEE, 529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045 or visit aceee.org.
