Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/835233
10 commercial carrier journal | june 2017 JOURNAL NEWS EPA hints revision or delay in emissions rules for 2018 trailers T he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hinted in a court document filed in late April that it may alter or delay fast-approaching emissions regulations scheduled to apply to model-year 2018 trailers. The so-called Phase 2 emissions regulations, published last year, call on truck, engine and trailer makers to make significant gains in boosting the fuel economy of tractor-trailers as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EPA, facing a lawsuit from the Truck and Trailer Manufacturers Association over the trailer-specific portion of the Phase 2 rule, filed a court motion in late April to have the lawsuit stalled for 90 days. The motion argued the agency "could decide to conduct further rule- making or undertake other actions that could obviate the need for judicial reso- lution of some or all of the issues raised by" TTMA's lawsuit. EPA did not respond to a request for the agency to clarify its intentions for the trailer-specific emissions regulations and what it means by "further rulemaking or … other actions," or whether it plans to consider revising other portions of the rule, such as those pertaining to tractors and engines. Under President Trump, EPA already has announced plans to revise fuel econ- omy standards and emissions regulations relating to light-duty and passenger vehicles, as well as rollbacks to emissions regulations for power plants enacted by the Obama administration. The Trump administration has announced no plans to review or alter heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards. A three-judge panel overseeing TTMA's lawsuit on May 8 granted EPA's request for a 90-day stay of the litiga- tion. Proceedings in the lawsuit are set to resume July 20, barring changes by EPA to the trailer emissions component of the Phase 2 rule. The case is being heard by a federal appellate court in the District of Columbia circuit. TTMA President Jeff Sims said his group also is pursuing a 90-day exten- sion of the deadline for the emissions regulations, given that the court has delayed the lawsuit's proceedings. The court, however, denied TTMA's request in the same order that stalls the lawsuit. Sims said his group's lawsuit seeks to revert efforts to boost trailer aerodynam- ics to a voluntary basis status, as was the case with EPA's SmartWay program. Phase 2 emissions standards do not dictate how equipment makers such as trailer manufacturers should meet the more restrictive emissions rules. Instead, they require only percentage-based improvements in fuel economy and GHG emissions. Hurdles are scheduled to be phased in over 10 years, culminating in tractor-trailer-wide standards in 2027. EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration require model- year 2027 tractor-trailers to achieve up to roughly 25 percent lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption versus an equiva- lent model-year 2018 rig. The standards for the first time set emissions benchmarks for trailers and begin with model-year 2018 trailers. Trailer manufacturers likely will use aerodynamic add-ons, lightweighting and low-rolling-resistance tires to meet the Phase 2 restrictions. – James Jaillet sales@prestolite.com • www.idleproextreme.com • +1 (800) 354-0560 © 2017 Prestolite Electric Inc. Assembled In The innovative new IdlePro ™ and IdlePro Extreme ™ high-ef ciency/high- output alternators feature exclusive technologies that help extend battery life and increase vehicle uptime. • Superior amperage at low engine RPM • Engine-saving Isolated Ground Technology • Remote Sense capable Industry-Best Output at Low Engine Speeds Learn more @PrestoliteElectric Phase 2 emissions standards do not dictate how trailer manufacturers should meet the more restrictive rules.