NEW FEDERAL STANDARDS FINALIZED FOR HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE EMISSIONS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have jointly announced a 10-year phase-in plan requiring major truck manufacturers and operators of large commercial motor vehicle (CMV) fleets, to lower CO2 pollution and lessen fuel consumption with a new set of federal standards designed to clamp down on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The standards would cover model years 2018-2027 for certain trailers and model years 2021-2027 for semi-trucks, large pickup trucks, vans and all types and sizes of buses and work trucks.

For the first time, EPA and NHTSA are finalizing fuel efficiency and GHG standards for certain trailers, which will begin to take effect in model year 2018.

“The actions we take today on climate change will help lessen the impacts on future generations,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “This next phase of standards for heavy and medium vehicles will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while driving innovation, and will ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in developing fuel efficient technologies through the next decade and beyond.”