Obama aims to toughen big-vehicle mileage rules

[phantom power]

WASHINGTON — Future tractor-trailers, school buses, delivery vans, garbage trucks, and heavy-duty pickup trucks would have to use less energy under fuel-efficiency rules proposed by the Obama administration — the first ever for such vehicles.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department are moving ahead with a proposal for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, beginning with those sold in the 2014 model year and into the 2018 model year.

The plan is expected to call for about a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption for long-haul trucks, said people familiar with the plan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want to speak publicly before the official announcement, expected today.

Overall, the proposal is expected to seek reductions of 10 to 20 percent in fuel consumption and emissions, depending on vehicle size. Large tractor-trailers tend to be driven up to 150,000 miles a year, making them candidates for improved mileage.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/10/25/obama_aims_to_toughen_big_vehicle_mileage_rules?mode=PF

[Bill USA]

1. recommended

[One_Life_To_Give]

2. Tractor Trailers should be pretty good already

150,000 miles per year at 6MPG is 25,000Gals/yr a 10% saving would be $7,500/yr. So adding $20k to the price of a rig would make it a no brainer for business to upgrade. Atleast for the Roadways, PIE's etc. It's trucks like refuse collection that I would expect need more of a government push. High percentage gain from Hydraulic Hybrid tech, but overall low annual fuel bill compared to long haul trucks.

[Meeker Morgan]

3. They will pass the expense on to anybody whose groceries are delivered to the supermarket by truck.

[kristopher]

4. You mean they'll pass the savings on, right?

As soon as the global economy starts picking up it is a certainty that the price of fuel will rise significantly. Fuel savings will almost surely *more than* pay for the investment in improved efficiency.

[Meeker Morgan]

5. Oh you innocent.