DOT/EPA Propose First-Time National Emissions and Fuel-Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks, Including Pickup Trucks

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on October 25 announced proposed new emission standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) and fuel consumption standards for three categories of heavy trucks--combination tractors, heavy-duty pickups and vans and vocational vehicles-beginning with model year 2014. The agencies are each proposing complementary standards under their respective authorities, which together would form a comprehensive Heavy-Duty (HD) National Program. EPA and NHTSA estimate that the HD National Program will reduce greenhouse gas (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.  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. 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. This action complements a May 2010 EPA and NHTSA light-duty vehicle emissions rule that, for the first time, regulates greenhouse gas emissions from new passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles. The light-duty vehicle rule mandates advances in vehicle fuel economy starting with model year 2012 and increasing through 2016 and, for the first time, establishes GHG emission limits. The light-duty vehicle rule equates to a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016.