EPA issues new clean air rules for heavy-duty trucks. California's rules are tougher

The transition will be expensive. Right now electric big rigs are priced two to three times a diesel truck’s costs — as much as $500,000. A recent trucking industry study concluded that turning to a 100% zero-emission trucking fleet across the U.S. by 2050 would cost more than $1 trillion, including not just the trucks, but thousands of new charging stations and the electrical system’s capacity to power them.

The rules forcing the technological change could lead to far lower costs as manufacturing scales up, proponents say.

“EPA’s new heavy-duty vehicle standards represent a step toward reducing emissions and advancing the transition to zero-emission freight, providing a necessary signal for investment in charging infrastructure and bolstering U.S. manufacturing to meet 2030 climate goals,” said John Boesel, chief executive of CALSTART, a clean transportation advocacy group.

“This regulation will spur investment and innovation that will result in accelerated growth of the domestic zero-emission commercial vehicle industry. In the long term, this regulation will create and protect jobs, while making the air cleaner and healthier for all,” Boesel said.

Truck manufacturers praised the flexibility of the national rules.

“Ultimately, the successful transition of the commercial vehicle industry is dependent on the availability of reliable zero-emission charging and refueling infrastructure and the ability to conduct business at a reasonable cost of ownership,” said Sean Waters, an executive at Daimler Truck North America. “We appreciate the regulation’s recognition of this fact and look forward to working with the EPA as well as federal and state governments to deliver both.”

Jim Ward, president of the Truckload Carriers Association, had a similar reaction: “The journey ahead provides for many alternatives to be considered to lower carbon such as blended biodiesel, renewable natural gas, diesel-electric, just to name a few, to help us bridge the gap to the future.”

The industry, however, will contend with the differences between California’s zero-emission mandates and the more flexible federal rules — so plenty of political lobbying and policy controversy lie ahead.