The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced proposed federal vehicle emissions standards to help accelerate the transition to clean vehicles and tackle the climate crisis.
They would also reduce maintenance costs and deliver fuel savings for drivers and truck operators. Through this proposal, the EPA estimates benefits would exceed costs by at least $1tn.
The first set of proposed standards focuses on “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium Duty Vehicles”, which builds on existing EPA emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks for MYs 2023 through 2026.
The proposed MY 2032 light-duty standards are projected to result in a 56% reduction in projected fleet average greenhouse gas emissions target levels compared to the existing MY 2026 standards. The proposed MY 2032 medium-duty vehicle standards would result in a 44% reduction compared to MY 2026 standards.
The second set of proposed standards is the “Greenhouse Gas Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3”, which would apply to heavy-duty vocational vehicles and trucks typically used to haul freight.
Like the light- and medium-duty proposal, the heavy-duty proposal uses performance-based standards that enable manufacturers to achieve compliance efficiently based on the composition of their fleets.
Both sets of proposed standards are expected to drive the widespread use of filters to reduce gasoline particulate matter emissions and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. They will also spur greater deployment of CO2-reducing technologies for gasoline-powered vehicles.