EPA and DOT issue final Phase 2 GHG and fuel efficiency rulemaking for medium- and heavy-duty trucks

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GRA

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Via GCC: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2016/08/20160816-epadotmdhd.html

. . . The product of four years of testing and research and outreach to industry, environmental organizations, labor unions, and other stakeholders, the vehicle and engine performance standards will cover model years 2021-2027, and apply to semi-trucks, large pickup trucks and vans, and all types and sizes of buses and work trucks. These standards will result in significant GHG emissions reductions and fuel efficiency improvements across all of these vehicle types. For example, when the standards are fully phased in, tractors in a tractor-trailer will achieve up to 25% lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption than an equivalent tractor in 2018.

The agencies are also finalizing fuel-efficiency and GHG standards for trailers for the first time. The EPA trailer standards, which exclude certain categories such as mobile homes, will begin to take effect in model year 2018 for certain trailers, while NHTSA’s standards will take effect as of 2021, with credits available for voluntary participation before then.

Cost-effective technologies for trailers—including aerodynamic devices, light weight construction and self-inflating tires—can significantly reduce total fuel consumption by tractor-trailers, while paying back the owners in less than two years due to the fuel saved. . . .

California to keep pushing for more stringent regulations

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced its support for the new Phase 2 MDHD rulemaking. However, the state agency noted, to meet California’s long-term greenhouse gas goals out to 2050, more stringency will be needed, even after the Phase 2 standards are fully implemented in 2027.

CARB said it looked forward to continued cooperation with the federal agencies on this long-term effort. In addition, CARB is looking forward to working with the federal agencies to develop new, lower NOx standards. In order to achieve the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards set by US EPA, CARB estimates that the South Coast Air Basin alone (including Los Angeles) will need an 80% reduction in NOx emissions by 2031. . . .
Direct link to final rule here: https://www3.epa.gov/otaq/climate/documents/2016-08-ghg-hd-final-rule-phase2-preamble.pdf

A related story, also GCC:
DOE to award up to $137M for SuperTruck II, Vehicle Technology Office programs
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2016/08/20160816-doe-1.html

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will invest up to $137 million in two programs, subject to appropriations, to develop next-generation technologies that will support industry in going beyond the newly announced Phase II standard for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (earlier post) and also accelerating technology advances for passenger cars and light trucks.

One initiative, SuperTruck II (earlier post), will award $80 million to four projects to develop and to demonstrate cost-effective technologies that more than double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks. . . .
 
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