Even taking into consideration the higher overall acquisition and potential maintenance costs associated with tougher GHG (greenhouse gas) standards for heavy-duty trucks, the significant fuel savings these standards will lead to might be good news for the trucking industry, says Jim Sweeney, Vice President of Capital Equipment for AmeriQuest Transportation Services in his blog.
The rules for heavy-duty trucking beginning with model year 2019 will take effect immediately following the current GHG standards that are just now phasing in for model year 2014-2018. “The 2014-2018 standards should result in significant savings and benefits over the lifetime of the vehicles and as a whole, could save owners and operators an estimated $50 billion in fuel costs,” Sweeney says. “There is no reason to doubt similar benefits will not be generated by the 2019 rules.”
Included among the positive features truck manufacturers are incorporating into vehicles so far are:
- Development of enhanced engine electronics
- More efficient driveline components to reduce friction
- Idle reduction technologies
- Low-rolling resistance tires and overall weight reduction of trucks and trailers
