WASHINGTON—The Pew Charitable Trusts commends the Obama administration for issuing today a draft rule to increase the fuel efficiency of, and reduce tailpipe emissions from, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The proposed rule would require vehicles such as tractor-trailers, package delivery vans, transit buses, and other large trucks sold between 2021 and 2027 to meet new greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards. According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which jointly released the rule, it would conserve 1.8 billion barrels of oil, reduce carbon pollution by 1 billion metric tons, and cut fuel costs by about $170 billion over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program.
Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s clean energy initiative, issued the following statement:
“When heavy- and medium-duty trucks become more fuel efficient, the U.S. economy will benefit. Truckers will pay less at the pump, businesses will have lower shipping costs, and consumers will save on purchased goods—all while pollution is decreased, benefitting public health and the environment.
“This administration has shown a strong commitment to enhancing transportation efficiency by setting new standards and investing in vehicle innovation. Previous rules requiring higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions in cars and light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks have delivered significant economic, national security, and environmental benefits and shown that industry can achieve and exceed ambitious, long-term targets.
“The Department of Energy has already collaborated with the trucking industry to develop highly efficient ‘super trucks,’ tractor-trailers that can travel twice as far on a gallon of fuel. These additional measures would help ensure that the U.S. remains a leader in vehicle efficiency innovation.”
More than 300 companies and business advocacy groups support strong efficiency standards for trucks. See the list.
More information on the fuel efficiency for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is available at www.pewtrusts.org/fuelefficiency
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