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Proposed new rules to make trucks, buses fuel-efficient
by Anter Prakash Singh - October 26, 2010 - comments
Though trucks and buses comprise of only 4 percent of the total vehicles in the United States, they consume 20 percent fuel due to the time they spend on road.
Come 2014, the vehicular emission rules might call for greater fuel efficiency for heavy commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses. Aimed at reducing green house gases and other pollutants in the air we breathe, new rules have been proposed to be applicable on vehicles with model year 2014.
The proposed rules require achieving at least 20 percent emissions reduction by heavy vehicles by model year 2018. This would require increasing fuel efficiency to 8 miles per gallon compared to present 6 miles per gallon right now.
Though trucks and buses comprise of only 4 percent of the total vehicles in the United States, they consume 20 percent fuel due to the time they spend on road.
These new standards have been issued by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the Transport Department at a time when the Congress is facing a deadlock with hugely divergent opinions over the legislation related to environment.
Better fuel economy could be achieved by manufacturers with the use of new technology to improve engines, tires and aerodynamics of the heavy duty vehicles.
Administration hopeful of improving environment
EPA Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson stated “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.”
She hopes that better fuel economy will also reduce fuel costs for small businesses and shipping companies that rely on trucks.
Better fuel economy could be achieved by manufacturers with the use of new technology to improve engines, tires and aerodynamics of the heavy duty vehicles.
Beneficial for the industry too
The environmentalists have welcomed the proposal, and even the truck manufacturers also admitted that they have been consulted in advance about the new rules.
But many of them expressed apprehension that the higher cost could put some truckers and companies out of the market. Adhering to new rules would add $5,900 to the price of a truck which is currently priced at $100,000.
The EPA said that the increased cost will not be a deterrent as a trucker stands to save $74,000 in the lifetime of a truck, a claim not verified independently.
The government estimates that the new rules will cut greenhouse-gas emissions by nearly 250 million metric tons and also reduce oil consumption.
California Law enforcers and environmentalists have approved the new rules.
More than 40 percent of the cargo containers move through Los Angeles and Long Beach. The diesel powered vehicles are the biggest cause of pollution in Los Angeles.