Clean diesel engines power more than a third of medium-, heavy-duty trucks in US

July 9, 2014

More than one-third of all medium and heavy duty commercial trucks registered in the United States--2.9 million out of a total of 8.8 million trucks--are now equipped with newer technology clean diesel engines, according to new data compiled by HIS Automotive for the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF).

The new data includes total registration information on Class 3 to Class 8 trucks from 2007 through 2013 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Beginning in 2007, all heavy-duty diesel trucks sold in the United States had to meet particulate emissions levels of no more than 0.01 grams per brake horse-power hour (g/HP-hr)--a level near zero.

"Because more than 95% of all heavy-duty trucks are diesel-powered it is significant that more than one-third of these trucks are near zero emission vehicles," says Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. "Diesel trucks are literally the driving force behind goods movement in the United States and worldwide economies so the fact that the clean diesel fleet is increasing is good news for improved fuel efficiency and the environment. These new trucks are so clean that it now takes more than 60 of today's clean diesel trucks to equal the emissions from a single 1988 truck.

"Last year was the fifth consecutive year of increased penetration of the new clean diesel trucks in the fleet, reflecting the continuing confidence that American truckers have in the performance and fuel efficiency improvements of new technology diesel engines.”

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