National standards for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved fuel efficiency from heavy duty trucks and buses could soon be introduced in the USA.
That’s after the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a rulemaking for the first national standard. They are proposing complementary standards under their respective authorities for model years 2014-2018. The heavy duty fleet includes all on-road vehicles rated at a gross vehicle weight at or above 8,500lbs.
The standards will apply not only to engines but also to the complete vehicle giving the agencies the ability to achieve the greatest possible reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
For heavy duty pick-up trucks and vans they want a set corporate average standard similar to the approach taken for light duty vehicles. Each manufacturer’s standard would depend on its sales mix with less stringent target levels for higher capacity vehicles. It is suggested that the standards for this segment would have a set of target curves based on a “work factor” that combines the vehicle’s payload, towing capabilities and whether or not it has four-wheel drive. The standards proposed for 2018 represent an average vehicle reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 17 per cent for diesel vehicles and 12 per cent for petrol vehicles.
The NHTSA meanwhile, wants a set corporate average standard for fuel consumption equivalent to the EPA’s proposal, but without an air conditioning leakage standard. This would represent an average per vehicle improvement in fuel consumption of 15 per cent for diesel vehicles and 10 per cent for petrol vehicles.
A 60 day comment period has been provided with the NHTSA preparing a draft Environmental Impact Statement for its proposed fuel efficiency standards. Comments may be submitted until January 3, 2011.
