US confirms new, stricter tailpipe emissions limits for heavy vehicles By Reuters

David Shepherdson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it had finalized strict new tailpipe emissions standards for large vehicles such as semi-trucks and buses.

The EPA said the new rule, which sets standards for model years 2027 through 2032, would prevent 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and provide a net annual benefit of $13 billion to society.

Heavy vehicles account for 25% of the transportation sector’s total greenhouse gas emissions, which accounts for about 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA said the standards are “technology-neutral and performance-based, allowing each manufacturer to select the set of emission control technologies that best fit their and their customers’ needs.”

The new standards apply to delivery trucks, garbage trucks, public utility trucks, public transit, shuttles, school buses and tractor-trailer trucks.

The EPA said the final rule “provides more time in the program’s initial model years for vehicle technology development and charging and refueling infrastructure deployment” and provides flexibility that will help manufacturers meet the standards early on.

Current tailpipe emissions limits for heavy-duty trucks and engines were set in 2016 for the 2021 through 2027 model years.

Last week, the EPA finalized emissions rules for light and medium-duty vehicles through 2032, reducing its goal for U.S. electric vehicle adoption by 2032 from 67% to 35%.