EPA, Transportation Dept. propose fuel standards for large trucks

Standards proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are aimed at boosting fuel efficiency while reducing carbon pollution and the impacts of climate change while at the same time increasing energy security and encouraging innovations in manufacturing.

The new standards would lower C02 emissions by an estimated 1 billion metric tons, slash fuel costs by approximately $170 billion, and cut oil consumption by as much as 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold through the program.

“Once upon a time, to be pro-environment you had to be anti-big-vehicles," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. "This rule will change that.”

The proposed standards could mean savings for consumers and businesses.

“We’re delivering big time on President (Barack) Obama’s call to cut carbon pollution,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. “With emission reductions weighing in at 1 billion tons, this proposal will save consumers, businesses and truck owners money and at the same time spur technology innovation and job growth, while protecting Americans’ health and our environment over the long haul.”

The proposed standards are the culmination of three years of testing and research and would cover model years 2021-27, applying to semis, large pick-ups, vans, buses and work trucks.

Particular technologies are not mandated by the standards. Rather, they can be achieved through the use of a variety of technology options and would allow manufacturers to choose appropriate methods for their products and customers and be phased in over the long term. A public comment period will be open for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register.

NHTSA and EPA will host two public hearings. For more details, visit http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-heavy-duty.htm and http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy.