| Volume 11 | No. 2 | Spring 2009 |
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Dialogue
Will reducing global warming pollution from big rigs increase the cost of retail goods? |
Heavy-duty trucks are a vital part of our freight transportation system, but this reliable service comes at a price: trucks are responsible for approximately 7 percent of all U.S. global warming emissions. As we address the threat of climate change, we need to reduce emissions from all sources, including trucks. Fortunately, reducing global warming pollution from heavy-duty trucks may actually decrease the cost of goods, as improvements in truck fuel economy can quickly pay for themselves in reduced fuel costs.
The new UCS report Delivering the Green found that truck operators who adopt readily available technologies to improve truck fuel efficiency, such as more efficient tires or aerodynamic devices, could recoup their investment in one to two years and save more than $30,000 in fuel costs over the life of the truck. These fuel economy improvements could also reduce global warming emissions by more than 10 percent per truck. Much greater emissions reductions, on the order of 30 percent, could be realized over the next several years through advances in drivetrain efficiency, hybrid engines, and other technologies.
There continue to be barriers to widespread adoption of available efficiency technologies. Factors include split ownership of tractors and trailers and a lack of standardized fuel-economy testing data for new trucks and retrofit components. UCS is helping to overcome these barriers by working with policy makers and regulators to establish efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks.
Also in this issue of Earthwise:
Close to Home
Faith in Solar Power
