Appeals Court to Hear Case on Fuel Efficiency Standards for New Freight Trucks and Buses

(Washington, D.C. — January 9, 2015) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will hear arguments today in a challenge to historic fuel efficiency and climate pollution standards for newly manufactured heavy-duty trucks and buses.

The standards were finalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2011. 

“These ground-breaking standards are already reducing climate pollution, promoting energy security, and saving money for both truckers and consumers,” said Peter Zalzal, Senior Attorney at Environmental Defense Fund. “The Administration has created science-based standards that are firmly rooted in the law, and are supported by a wide variety of Americans including truck and engine manufacturers, states, and environmental advocates.”

The standards require all heavy-duty vehicles manufactured in the years 2014 to 2018 to use less fuel and emit less dangerous pollution into the air. That category includes commercial trucks, buses and school buses, heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, and vocational trucks like delivery and garbage trucks. (The standards will not apply to passenger cars and light trucks, which already have separate fuel efficiency standards). 

EPA estimates that, over the lifetime of vehicles sold between 2014 and 2018, the standards will: 

• Reduce climate pollution by more than 270 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

• Reduce oil consumption by more than 530 million barrels

• Result in net savings of up to $73,000 in avoided fuel costs over the lifetime of a new long-haul truck.

The standards will also help reduce America’s dependence on imported oil, and will save consumers money through lower shipping costs. 

Opponents filed lawsuits opposing the standards.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will hear oral arguments in the case at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time this morning. Judges David Tatel, Harry Edwards, and Douglas Ginsburg are scheduled to hear the case.