EPA releases final greenhouse gas pollution standards for upcoming heavy-duty vehicles

On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its strongest greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty vehicles to date, setting plans in motion for model years 2027-2032.

With public health and the climate crisis in focus, the EPA stated that the new standards would avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and offer $13 billion in annualized net benefits. Freight trucks and buses are the main target, and recent modeling showed that the final standards could lead to greater reductions of pollution than the proposed rule had, while offering more time and flexibility for manufacturers to develop, scale and deploy cleaner heavy-duty vehicle technologies.

“In finalizing these emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and buses, EPA is significantly cutting pollution from the hardest working vehicles on the road,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. “Building on our recently finalized rule for light- and medium-duty vehicles, EPA’s strong and durable vehicle standards respond to the urgency of the climate crisis by making deep cuts in emissions from the transportation sector.”

Trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles account for 25 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector – the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. These new standards build on the EPA’s Heavy-Duty Phase 2 program from 2016, keeping things technology-neutral and performance-based, so manufacturers could each choose what set of emissions control technologies best suit them and their customers. More time has been provided for early model years to develop vehicle technologies and deploy charging and refueling infrastructure.

More than 175,000 public comments, hearing testimony and stakeholder engagement helped fuel the new standards.

“While many states already have policies ensuring more rapid adoption of electric trucks than these standards envision, the rules will help ramp up adoption nationwide,” Daivie Ghosh, senior research analyst for the EPA, said. “Residents living near trucking corridors in states that have not acted will particularly benefit from reduced pollution thanks to these standards. The final rule also leaves more work to be done, and state legislatures should spur use of electric and other zero-emission trucks by adopting the Advanced Clean Truck rule. By delaying the final standards for sleeper cabs until model year 2030 vehicles, EPA missed out on the additional climate and health benefits that would have started accruing much earlier from some of the highest-polluting vehicles on the roads. Everyone from truck manufacturers to fleet operators and companies building electric charging stations knows what they need to plan for now.”

These changes, according to the EPA, should be particularly helpful for the 72 million people in the United States who live close to truck freight routes – more often those of color or people from low-income households. They complete EPA’s Clean Trucks Plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, particulate matter and more from heavy-duty vehicles through various rulemakings.

“The new standards reflect Congress’ long standing demand for healthy air along with its recent historic investments in getting cleaner vehicles on our roads, corridors, and ports,” Katherine García, director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign, said. “Together, they are a game changer. With the climate crisis underway and many of our communities facing unprecedented fires, droughts, and floods, it’s crucial that truck manufacturers get into the fast lane with zero-emission trucks to deliver the climate, health, and economic benefits we deserve.”

After factoring in the vehicle purchase tax credits provided under the Inflation Reduction Act as well, the EPA noted that the typical buyer of new clean technology vocational vehicles and day cabs as of 2032 should be able to recoup the upfront costs on a vehicle in five years, as well as any additional costs in two to four years. That could amount to thousands in savings.