Final Heavy-Duty Tailpipe Rule Presents Challenges
The Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 new heavy-duty tailpipe emissions rule is unrealistic and unfeasible, the 17吃瓜在线 said Friday.
What鈥檚 going on: 鈥淭he rule鈥攑roposed in April 2023鈥攊s part of the 鈥楥lean Trucks Plan鈥 unveiled in 2023, which includes light-duty tailpipe and nitrogen oxide rules,鈥 (subscription) reports.
- 鈥淭he[se] 鈥楶hase 3鈥 standards build on previous phases of a broader regulatory program to stem greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles such as delivery trucks, long-haulers, and buses.鈥
- The Phase 1 rule was finalized in 2011, and the Phase 2 rule in 2016.
Why it鈥檚 problematic: While the new regulation grants automakers more time for implementation than previous versions did鈥攖hanks to input from manufacturers and their advocates, including the 鈥攊t still 鈥渇ails to reconcile with the realities of current U.S. infrastructure,鈥 according to an 17吃瓜在线 .
- 鈥淐ritical permitting reforms to strengthen transmission systems and a technology-neutral approach for manufacturers are essential to reaching U.S. climate goals,鈥 the 17吃瓜在线 wrote.
What should be done: Congress must reform the broken U.S. permitting system so we can build the electric vehicle charging station infrastructure required to implement a rule of this magnitude, the 17吃瓜在线 earlier this month.