New truck fuel economy rules proposed
October 25, 2010
The Obama Administration is proposing the first-ever fuel efficiency standards for medium and heavy trucks, to take effect in 2014 and 2018. The plan seeks cuts of 10% to 20% in fuel consumption and emissions based on the vehicle's size. The rules would apply to tractor-trailers, school buses, delivery vans and heavy-duty pickups.
The proposed rules would be phased in beginning with the 2014 model year, and would affect all on-road vehicles heavier than 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight. Off-road vehicles, sport utility vehicles, vans with less than a 13-person capacity and ½-ton pickup trucks are excluded.
The rules were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and are to be “tiered” as follows:
- For tractor-trailers, the proposed engine and vehicle standards begin in the 2014 model year and establish a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by the 2018 model year.
- For heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, the proposal includes separate gasoline and diesel truck standards which phase in starting in the 2014 model year and achieve up to a 10% reduction for gasoline vehicles and 15% reduction for diesel vehicles by the 2018 model year.
- Vocational vehicles would need to meet a 10% improvement target for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by the 2018 model year.
The administration said the proposal, to be made final next year, will eliminate nearly 250 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and save 500 million barrels of oil over the lives of vehicles produced within the program's first five years.
For more information, visit NHTSA’s website here.
