Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking to revise portions of its 2023 heavy-duty nitrogen oxide regulations, including eliminating diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)-related engine derates and vehicle speed restrictions on newly manufactured trucks, according to a July 9 press release.
- The proposal would also scale back emissions warranty requirements, delay implementation of certain regulatory useful life provisions and establish temporary nonconformance penalties for certain heavy-duty diesel engines that cannot meet new NOx standards.
- If finalized, the EPA estimates the new rule would save truckers $12 billion and reduce the cost of new trucks by up to $6,000 per vehicle.
Dive Insight:
The proposal centers on one of the trucking industry’s regular maintenance headaches: DEF-induced engine derates.
Under current regulations, trucks experiencing emissions-system failures can be programmed to reduce engine power or speed until repairs are completed. Fleets have long argued that sensor failures and other DEF-related issues can sideline otherwise operational trucks, resulting in costly downtime.
Under the EPA’s proposal, new trucks would no longer be required to derate because of emissions-system failures. Instead, drivers would receive warning notifications, allowing them to continue operating the vehicle until repairs can be made.
The agency is also proposing to give manufacturers additional time to develop and test new technologies before requirements from the 2023 rule take effect, but didn’t provide additional timeframe specifics.
“If finalized, these changes will help manufacturers keep improving their vehicles without being forced to rush products to market before they’re ready,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in the release.
The proposed regulation will have a 45-day public comment period and a public hearing before the EPA decides whether to finalize the changes.
The announcement follows EPA’s recent “Freedom to Fix” guidance, which clarifies that truck owners and independent repair facilities may repair emissions-control systems and restore vehicles to their certified configuration without violating federal anti-tampering rules. The agency also directed manufacturers to improve access to emissions-related diagnostic information, software and tools, expanding options for repairs.
