WASHINGTON, DC – The Diesel Technology Forum says the wider adoption of 2010-or-newer diesel engines will be one of the keys to meeting environmental, economic and efficiency goals under the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan.

“Diesel engines are the prime mover in the global goods movement system, which includes California,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director, in final comments to the California Freight Advisory Committee. “From oceangoing vessels to railroad freight locomotives to medium and heavy-duty trucks, diesel engines power the movement of freight and commerce because of their unmatched combination of efficiency, power, performance, reliability, durability. And while nothing has changed about that, everything has changed about the diesel engine’s environmental credentials.

“Today, that technology is delivering not only the goods and services that Californian’s depend on, but it also is delivering proven and tangible clean air benefits,” he said. “Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) from commercial diesel trucks (light, medium and heavy-duty) have declined by about 60% from 2000-2015, according to [California Air Resources Board] data. Near-zero-emissions clean diesel technology is now the gold standard for moving goods.”

The fastest way to meet the goals is to accelerate the adoption of new “clean diesel” technology in trucks and off-road equipment, he added, referring to equipment that meets post-2010 emission requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

California boasts more than 900,000 Class 3-8 commercial vehicles, with 18% being 2010 Model Year designs or newer. Research conducted for the forum has estimated that the newer vehicles have saved or eliminated 700,000 tons of NOx and 20,700 tons of Particulate Matter since 2010. They have also saved 5.8 million barrels of crude oil and 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. Across the U.S., about 26% of the commercial diesel fleet meets the post-2010 EPA standards.

In contrast, about 15,000 commercial vehicles are powered by natural gas.

“Substantial additional greenhouse gas reduction goals are achievable under a modest increase in the share of these Model Year 2010 compliant commercial vehicles,” Schaeffer said.  “For example, over a million tons of C02 each year may be eliminated if the share of these newest clean diesel commercial vehicles increased to just 26%, the national average.”

The South Coast Air Quality Management District says another 80 tons of NOx emissions could be eliminated each day in the South Coast air basin if all commercial vehicles were powered by a 2010 or newer diesel engine.

Diesel engines are also able to burn a wide range of blended biofuels such as biodiesel or renewable diesel, he says.