Clean Freight Coalition Statement on Latest EPA Heavy-Duty Truck Emissions Rule
March 29 2024 - 9:38AM
Today, Clean Freight Coalition Executive Director Jim Mullen issued
the following statement on behalf of the Coalition regarding the
Environmental Protection Agency’s final Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Regulations for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3 rule:
“The members of the Clean Freight Coalition have a long history
of collaborating with federal regulators on sound regulations that
support environmental improvements at the right speed.
“However, our members oppose the Environmental Protection
Agency’s final Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations for Heavy-Duty
Vehicles-Phase 3 rule – a regulation that will require the adoption
of zero-emissions commercial vehicles at a pace that isn’t possible
due to the limits of today’s technology.
“Today, these vehicles fail to meet the operational demands of
many motor carrier applications, reduce the payload of trucks and
thereby require more trucks to haul the same amount of freight, and
lack sufficient charging and alternative fueling infrastructure to
support adoption. In addition, battery electric motorcoaches have a
reduced range and capacity compared to diesel buses. These
commercial vehicles are in their infancy and are just now being
tested and validated with real world-miles.
“The GHG Phase 3 rule will have detrimental ramifications to the
commercial vehicle industry, many small and large businesses,
commercial vehicle dealers and their customers. A recent
study contracted by the CFC demonstrated that fully
electrifying the nation’s medium- and heavy-duty commercial
vehicles will cost motor carriers $620 billion in charging
infrastructure alone. That does not include the vehicle cost which
increases by 2-3 times compared to a diesel truck. For example,
today’s diesel class 8 truck costs roughly $180,000 compared to an
electric truck’s price tag of $400,000, and for motorcoaches,
today’s diesel costs $600,000 compared to $1.5 million for battery
electric – costs that will ultimately be borne on the backs of
consumers.
“On top of the costs to the truck and bus industries, utilities
and the government will need to invest $370 billion to upgrade
their networks and the power grid to meet the demands of the
commercial vehicle industry alone, putting the price tag for an
electric supply chain at nearly $1 trillion before one
battery-electric commercial vehicle is purchased.
“Rather than mandating a new technology that carries with it
exorbitant costs and operational concerns, policymakers should
support lower carbon alternatives to diesel fuel that are currently
commercially viable (such as biodiesel and renewable diesel). These
lower carbon fuels will allow EPA to make progress on emissions
today, while the industry implements longer-term options. Mandating
a transition to technology that is decades away from being viable
at scale will keep older, less environmentally friendly commercial
vehicles on the road longer, stunting the carbon reduction progress
EPA seeks.
“The CFC supports sound policies which promote the sustainable
and affordable transition to zero emission commercial vehicles,
embraces any powertrain to reach these goals, and protects the
integrity of the nation’s supply chain. The Phase 3 GHG rule fails
to meet that standard.”
The Clean Freight Coalition is an alliance of transportation
stakeholders committed to a clean energy future for America’s
commercial vehicle industry. Participating associations span motor
carriers of every size and sector, truck dealers, truck stop
operators and bus industry. Learn more at
www.cleanfreightcoalition.org
ContactJim Mullen(703) 838-1873