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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its strongest-ever tailpipe emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, such as freight trucks and buses, as reported by Reuters on March 29. The new rules apply to model year 2027 to 2032 heavy-duty vehicles, which account for 25% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector, a department representing 29% of total US GHG emissions. Compared with last year’s tougher rules aimed at preventing 1.9 billion tons of GHG emissions through 2055, the final version is expected to avoid 1 billion tons and bring USD13bn in annualized net benefits to society. Moreover, the new rules will give more time and flexibility for manufacturers to develop, scale, and deploy clean heavy-duty vehicle technologies.
This new rule builds on the EPA’s existing tailpipe emissions limits for heavy-duty vehicles, introduced in 2016 to cover model years spanning 2021 to 2027.Opponents, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, argued that tougher emissions standards may inadvertently lead drivers to stick to older, more polluting trucks rather than zero emissions vehiclesburdened with more manufacturing costs. They also raised worries about a lack of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. In response to these concerns, the Biden administration claimed that its rules are technology-neutral, allowing businesses to choose from a range of options including hybrid, electric, fuel cell vehicles, or advanced internal combustion engine vehicles. Additionally, the administration anticipates that the fuel and maintenance cost savings for buying a heavy-duty truck could reach between USD3,700 and USD10,500 in 2032.
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