On November 3rd, the U.S. EPA will hold a workshop to discuss the recently promulgated greenhouse gas emissions standards and fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty engines and vehicles, reports NGVAmerica. The standards aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel efficiency for on-road heavy-duty vehicles. This workshop will focus on topics that must be explained in the short term to facilitate manufacturers wishing to certify early. The workshop is applicable to the following industry sectors:
(1) Class 2b & 3 Heavy-duty Pickup Trucks and Vans;
(2) Heavy-duty Engines; and
(3) Class 7 & 8 Combination Tractors and Class 2b-8 Vocational Vehicles.
For each sector, EPA will provide an overview of the rulemaking provisions critical to early certification decision-making such as standards, flexibilities, timing, and certification and compliance provisions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will also be participating in the workshop.
The EPA and NHTSA report, entitled Final Rulemaking to Establish Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles: Regulatory Impact Analysis, was published in August this year — it is available for download from the EPA website.
Following the report’s publication NGVAmerica issued a press release stating the heavy duty vehicle rules undervalued the benefits of NGVs, believing the rules could have been even more effective in reducing emissions and reducing the use of imported petroleum. “The rules include some regulatory incentives and flexibility for natural gas trucks but should have gone much further in recognizing the benefits of NGVs,” said NGVAmerica President, Richard Kolodziej. “The rules are designed to address the urgent and closely intertwined challenges of dependence on oil, energy security, urban emissions and global climate change. Natural gas vehicles help achieve all these goals and more.”
Persons interested in this workshop may participate in person or via webinar. The workshop will be held at the Morris J.Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College, located at 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
