EPA Considering Tougher Emission Rules for Big Trucks

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will reportedly consider adopting new emissions rules for large trucks after Congress passed fresh incentives designed to accelerate the national adoption of zero-emission vehicles.


Environmental regulations have become quite the slippery fish of late. Over the summer, the Supreme Court ruled against the agency (West Virginia v. EPA) and functionally limited its authority — especially in regard to the greenhouse gasses emitted from power plants. But the EPA has still been flexing its muscles and doing its utmost to advance the Biden administration’s stated agenda of ensuring the swift adoption of all-electric vehicles while also pushing forward some preexisting proposals of its own.

In March, the agency floated new rules to cut smog-forming and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. Reuters has since reported that the EPA has confirmed that it will be revisiting those proposed GHG rules now that there’s a boatload of new climate spending outlined in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act. All told, the legislation sets aside roughly $369 billion in incentives for energy and climate-related programs.


“... the big change here is the Inflation Reduction Act. Congress definitely sent a very strong message backed by significant resources,” EPA Office of Air and Radiation official Joseph Goffman explained to Reuters.


According to the outlet, the EPA will be issuing a supplemental notice of the proposed rules to consider even more stringent standards for vehicles MY 2027-2029 this December. This is based on the premise that the additional funding will make it possible for higher annual EV adoption rates in the United States than previously assumed.


The EPA suggested in March that the new heavy truck emission standards could result in “up to” 24-25 percent lower CO2 emissions when the plan reaches peak performance. Vehicles being targeted include most tractor vehicles, school buses, city buses, commercial delivery trucks, and more.


We'll just how much higher the EPA is aiming in a couple of months.


[Image: Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock]

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Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Jwee Jwee on Sep 23, 2022

    EVs have low energy density but high efficiency and high energy recovery. Thus they are good replacements for ICE in stop and start traffic, but their relatively puny energy density hurts them for longer haul/trips. As battery energy density increases and prices drop, so does the cost envelope that makes EVs viable. Have trucks crossed the cost envelope yet? I don't know, but it seems like they will, and along with it almost all road transport. Even in the Villages, the bastion of retired republicans, retirees drive EVs, (carts).

  • EBFlex EBFlex on Sep 23, 2022

    “Even in the Villages, the bastion of retired republicans, retirees drive EVs, (carts)”


    There is a difference between a golf cart and an automobile. EVs have their place but they are nowhere near ready to replace ICE automobiles for numerous reasons

    • See 1 previous
    • EBFlex EBFlex on Sep 24, 2022

      How is pointing out that there is a difference between a golf cart and an automobile related to anything you asserted? Also please provide a link to the affiliations of the residents of that community. I’d be interested to see where you are getting your information.

      And yes you can criticize government cars because they are simply garbage.




  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
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