U.S. Proposes Fuel Economy Rules for Big Trucks

The Obama administration proposes cuts of as much as 20% in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold in the U.S. by the 2018 model year.

that truckmakers reduce the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the medium- and heavy-duty trucks they sell in the U.S. by the 2018 model year by as much as 20% from current levels.

The Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expect to finalize the regulations the first for those vehicles by July 30, 2011, and begin phasing them in for 2014 models.

The trucks involved account for just 4% of the vehicles on the road but consume one-fifth of the transportation fuel in the U.S., according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The environmental group says heavy-duty trucks currently average about 6.5 miles per gallon, and large pickups and vans get about 10 to 11 mpg.

The proposal sets separate rules for three categories of trucks: big-rig tractor-trailers (as much as a 20%), heavy-duty trucks and vans (10% for gasoline-powered and 15% for diesel-powered vehicles) and "vocational vehicles" such as buses, delivery trucks and garbage trucks (10%).

The EPA and NHTSA calculate the rules would eliminate nearly 250 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, cut oil consumption by 500 million barrels and save truckers $35 billion over the lives of vehicles produced from 2014 to 2018.

The government says the new standards can be met with existing technologies, including engine and transmission upgrades, better tires and more aerodynamic vehicle designs. Environmental groups say the use of hybrid-electric drivetrains could improve fuel economy by as much as 35% and suggest the standards should be tougher.