October 1 Marks Introduction Of New Generation of Smogless Heavy Truck Engines

October 2, 2002

This month marks the introduction of new truck engines that will reduce by 40% the key emissions that cause smog and are a precursor to the virtual elimination of these emissions before the decade is out.

Since the early 1970s, emissions from heavy truck engines have progressively been more strictly regulated. The evidence of these continuous emission improvements in trucks is found in the Ontario Drive Clean results --- over 98% of trucks six years or newer are passing the test. Over the last three years, both the US and Canadian governments have passed regulations that establish a timetable for the virtual elimination of smog-causing emissions from heavy trucks between October 1, 2002 and the fall of 2006, when the 2007 model year vehicles are rolled out.

“Truck diesel emissions have been systematically and significantly reduced in recent years”, said David Bradley, president of the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA). “The engines rolling off assembly lines today will produce even better results for the air we breathe.”

Smog emissions from trucks have decreased by a factor of ten over the past decade. The typical truck engines commuters pass on the highway today reduce the main smog pollutants by up to 83% over those of the previous decade.

However, US government sources estimate a cost increase for current generation of between $13,000 to $22,000 per truck. In addition, fuel efficiency may be impacted.

“The good news is that in the not too distant future we will be able to say that trucks do not contribute to smog. The bad news is that clean air comes at a price. The increased costs of purchasing and operating the new equipment will have to be passed on to our customers,” said Bradley.

Currently the trucking industry is the only freight transportation mode in Canada whose diesel fuel and engine emissions are regulated.