US seeks lower truck emissions, transition to electric

WASHINGTON D.C.: After Congress approved new initiatives to speed the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told Reuters it will seek to enforce stricter greenhouse gas emissions rules for heavy trucks.

The EPA, which proposed new rules to cut smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles in March, said that under the climate and spending Inflation Reduction Act it will reopen the proposed greenhouse gas rules after passage in August, which could accelerate the shift to electric heavy-duty vehicles in the U.S.

In December, it will also issue a supplemental notice related to more stringent greenhouse gas standards for model years 2027 through 2029.

“The big change here is the Inflation Reduction Act. Congress definitely sent a very strong message, backed by significant Resources,” the EPA’s Joseph Goffman told Reuters.

This week, Jed Mandel, president of the Truck Engine Manufacturers Association, which represents companies such as Daimler Trucks, Caterpillar and Cummins, said, “Getting all these rules and regulations working in concert is extremely important and very challenging,” as quoted by Reuters.

The EPA stressed that transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., making up 29 percent of emissions, adding that heavy-duty vehicles are the second-largest contributor, at 23 percent.