The EPA is rolling out its national standards for GHG controls and energy efficiency for heavy-duty trucks and buses. The agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are proposing new standards for three categories of heavy trucks: combination tractors, heavy-duty pickups and vans, and vocational vehicles.

For combination tractors, the agencies are proposing engine and vehicle standards that begin in the 2014 model year, and require up to a 20-percent reduction in CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption by the 2018 model year.

For heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, the agencies are proposing separate gasoline and diesel truck standards, which phase-in starting in the 2014 model year. The agencies want a 10-percent reduction for gasoline vehicles and 15-percent reduction for diesel vehicles by the 2018 model year (12 and 17 percent respectively if accounting for air conditioning leakage). For vocational vehicles, the agencies are proposing engine and vehicle standards starting in the 2014 model year which would achieve up to a 10-percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by the 2018 model year.

The emission standards follow a separate announcement on Oct. 15 for light-duty trucks.

The agencies are providing a 60-day comment period that begins when the proposal is published in the Federal Register. Since 60 days from today is Christmas (Ed note: um….don't ask we know that off-hand), expect the comment period to end just after the holiday.

SOURCE: EPA website