The Obama government has introduced a law that will protect the government over $50 million concerning fuel cost starting from the year 2014 to 2018. The Whitehouse claims that it is going to reduce oil imports throughout that time by 530 million barrels; as well as cutting greenhouse gas emissions by about 270 million tons.
There is going to be two sets of standards, one requires engine manufacturers to increase productivity and the other gears connected to the fuel economy of trucks in different classes namely buses, garbage trucks, and delivery trucks. Standards will begin taking effect in the 2014 model year vehicles.
The truck means follow a statement previously this month of higher fuel efficiency evaluations for cars and light trucks, which will promote the average fuel efficiency, as measured by EPA tests, over 50 miles per gallon.
Similarly to the auto standards, truck and engine makers expected to meet the new set of regulations by making incremental enhancements with accessible technologies. Trucks are going to get more sensible engines, therefore, saving fuel with better aerodynamics, lighter-weight materials, and turning off engines when at rest.
Representative for the Engine Manufacturers Association, Joe Suchecki says the enhancements in the engine and then the approval of lot of these efficiency practices, like improved aerodynamics and low-resistance tires, which are already available in the market today. The solution is already available in the market, so it would be easier to implement the change needed for the betterment of the trucks for tomorrow.
By year 2018, the directive is going to happen in a 23 percent cut in fuel utilization for semi-trucks, while heavy-duty trucks and vans will get about 15 percent more cost-effective. School buses, city buses, and service trucks operated by utilities is going to have 10 percent better fuel competence.
Suchecki said that the industry has traditionally resisted tighter auto and light-truck fuel regulations, but the trucking industry has been helpful with implementing the higher standards since the corporate customers are pushing them for better efficiency. Owners and workers have always looked for the best fuel efficiency because fuel is a driver in terms of the cost of doing the company’s work.
According to a fact sheet from the Department of Transportation, the rules also have incentives hidden in the form of credits, for sophisticated technologies namely diesel-hybrid and electric power trains as well as fuel cell vehicles.
Operators of fleet vehicles are the most targeted customers since they are the best customers for higher efficiency skills as fuel takes up the biggest portion of the cost and fleet operators follow long-term savings, rather than paying up front.