• Obama orders fuel efficiency standards for lorries

    President Obama has ordered the US environmental protection agency and department for transport to develop greenhouse gas standards for medium- and heavy-duty lorries.

    Download file - form

    Please complete the this form to have access to file, once submitted the file will load on the browser window.

    The standards would enter into force in 2014 but the exact shape and stringency is not yet known. The agencies have until July next year to finalise the standards.
     
    The move follows the release of a study by the US National Academy of Sciences that found that trucks can be made 50% more fuel-efficient over the next 10 years. This has surprised some experts as until now it was often assumed that market pressures had already pushed the industry towards maximising fuel efficiency.
     
    The EU is considering a similar move as reported in last month’s Bulletin.

    A study published by T&E in January 2009 found that lorries cause almost a quarter of road transport emissions.