The EPA has determined that certain tire models can reduce NOx emissions and fuel use by three percent or more, relative to the best-selling new tires for line-haul Class 8 tractor-trailers. SmartWay®, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program, launched in 2004 to create incentives that would improve supply chain fuel efficiency and reduce transportation-related emissions.
The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a collaboration between the EPA and the freight industry, which uses strong market-based incentives to challenge companies to improve the environmental performance of their freight operations. Through their collaboration with the EPA, SmartWay Transport partners improve energy efficiency, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), and improve air quality. One of the methods used to make these reductions is through Smartway verified tires and retreads.
In May 2010, the Obama Administration announced the intent to develop a single, coordinated national greenhouse gas/fuel efficiency program targeted at medium and heavy-duty vehicles. In August 2011, the US EPA together with the NHTSA announced the nation’s first ever regulations under the Clean Air Act and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from medium and heavy-duty highway trucks and engines. These GHG Emissions Requirements become mandatory for all OEMs starting model year 2014.
Phase One of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Requirements program will commence by EPA for heavy-duty truck engines and vehicles. It will not involve trailers or RVs at this juncture. A GEM simulation tool is available for fleet use. The program becomes increasingly stringent through the 2018 model year.
It is aimed to reduce carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and hydroflurocarbons on combination tractors by 20%, vocational vehicles by 10% and heavy-duty pickups and vans by 15%. The EPA will measure these emission standards by grams of carbon dioxide per ton of freight transported one mile on heavy-duty trucks and vocational vehicles and by grams of carbon dioxide of freight transported one mile for heavy-duty pickups and vans. The NHTSA program, which will become effective for model year 2017, will measure these emission standards by gallons by 1000 ton-miles on heavy-duty trucks and vocational vehicles and by gallons by mile for heavy-duty pickups and vans.
The new rules apply to Class 2b Class 8 vehicles and will be measured under the new Greenhouse Gas Emission model or GEM. GHG Emissions Requirements pertain to all vehicles over 8500 GVWR and make up the largest contributor of oil consumption and GHG emissions after light-duty passenger cars and trucks. It is anticipated that GHG Emissions Requirements will reduce oil consumption by 530 million barrels and GHG emissions by 270 million metric tons. The regulated line-haul tractor categories include class (7 and 8), roof (low, mid and high) and cab (sleeper and day) and vocational trucks such as buses, refuse trucks, ambulances, concrete mixers, etc.
There are several different subcategories, which are measured as part of the model. These include aerodynamics, steer tire and drive tire rolling resistance, engine efficiency, vehicle speed limiters, vehicle weight reduction and extended idle reduction. Vehicles will be required to have a new emissions label placed inside the driver door jamb. The product must also have a warranty which states the product is designed and built to conform to the GHG requirements. Tire warranties must comply with two years or 24,000 miles.
Speed limiters and idle reduction are not parameters that offer resale value and fleet flexibility, hence aerodynamics and tires offer the best options for fleets. Tires are the most impactful solution towards compliance, providing high impact with a low associated cost. This will save fleets significant amounts in fuel savings and therefore increase profits. Wide-base singles and Smartway verified duals offer fleets performance while delivering low rolling resistance numbers toward the model. For instance, the Michelin X One tire offers up to 10% fuel savings and almost 200 pounds per axle of weight savings. See www.michelintruck.com and run the fuel savings calculator to see how much can be saved by switching to Michelin X One tires.