All articles tagged with #emission standards
Caterpillar, renowned for its legendary truck engines like the 3406 and 3408, exited the on-highway truck engine market due to the high costs and technical challenges associated with meeting increasingly strict EPA emission standards through the ACERT system, leading the company to refocus on off-highway markets such as construction and mining.
The US Supreme Court ruled that fossil fuel companies and states can challenge California's ability to set stricter vehicle emission standards, potentially impacting the state's pioneering clean car policies and efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. The decision overturns a lower court ruling and highlights ongoing legal and political battles over environmental regulations and state authority in climate policy.
The US Supreme Court will hear a challenge by fuel producers against California's vehicle emissions standards, which were allowed by a Biden administration waiver under the Clean Air Act. The case will determine if fuel producers have legal standing to contest the waiver, which they argue affects their business by promoting electric vehicles over gas-powered ones. This challenge follows a history of California receiving waivers to set stricter emissions standards, a practice reinstated by the Biden administration after being rescinded by Trump. The outcome could impact future challenges to environmental regulations.
Truckers are warning that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new emission standards, aimed at reducing air pollution from heavy-duty engines and vehicles, will have catastrophic effects on the American food supply. The trucking industry, which is predominantly made up of small businesses, argues that complying with the EPA's clean energy mandates will push many companies out of business, leading to a tightening of trucking capacity and severe price inflation. Truckers also express concerns about the practicality of electric vehicles, including limited driving range and the weight of lithium batteries, which would result in reduced payload capacity. Critics argue that the regulations prioritize green energy over the economy and fail to address infrastructure and testing challenges.
The California Air Resources Board and major truck manufacturers have reached an agreement to end the sale of gas-powered trucks in California by 2036, transitioning to zero emissions engines. The compromise includes following California's rules, banning the sale of new gas-powered trucks by 2036, while California regulators agreed to loosen some emission standards for diesel trucks. The agreement sets a path for zero emissions truck sales in California and other states that follow CARB regulations. However, challenges remain in developing electric semi trucks, including the need for a nationwide network of high-capacity chargers and potential cargo sacrifices due to battery weight.
The Biden Administration is set to propose tighter tailpipe emission standards that will make it harder and more expensive to sell gasoline-burning, carbon-dioxide-emitting cars in the future. This move is part of the administration's efforts to encourage the U.S. auto industry to make more zero-emission vehicles.