July 7 2014—More than one-third of U.S. medium and heavy duty commercial trucks are equipped with clean diesel engines, according to HIS Automotive for the Diesel Technology Forum.
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization that aims to raise awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology.
The data, collected between 2007 and 2013, showed that nearly 3 million class 3–8 trucks now have near zero emissions and that 2013 was the fifth consecutive year that number has increased.
“Because more than 95 percent of all heavy duty trucks are diesel-powered, it is significant that more than one-third of these trucks are near zero emission vehicles,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the diesel technology forum. “Diesel trucks are literally the driving force behind goods movement in the U.S. 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.”
The movement toward clean technology for diesel trucks started in 2000, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established standards to reduce emissions from on-road heavy duty trucks and busses. In 2007, it furthered that initiative when all heavy duty diesel trucks sold had to meet particular emissions levels of no more than 0.01 grams per brake horsepower hour.
But it’s not just the EPA interested in cleaner technology. Drivers have seen benefits as well.
“In addition, model year 2010 and later trucks are experiencing an average of three to five percent improvement in fuel economy,” Schaeffer said. “Additional fuel-saving strategies are being developed to improve engine efficiency, vehicle aerodynamics and expanded application of hybrid technology.”
So far, Texas is leading the U.S. for the highest number of clean diesel trucks with more than 345,000 registered. However, Indiana ranks number one for the highest percentage of clean diesel trucks. As of 2013, more than 50 percent of Indiana’s diesel trucks were equipped with clean technology.
The states with the highest number of clean diesel trucks since 2007 include:
- Texas: 345,456
- California: 209,098
- Indiana: 204,653
- Illinois: 130,423
- Pennsylvania: 123,313
- New York: 110,611
- Florida: 107,288
- Ohio: 107,081
- Oklahoma: 87,532
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North Carolina: 82,622
National Total: 2,966,311
The states with the highest percentage of clean diesel trucks since 2007 include :
- Indiana: 50.4%
- Utah: 45.4%
- Oklahoma:44.8%
- Texas: 41.9%
- Wyoming: 41.4%
- Louisiana: 37.8%
- Nebraska: 37.5%
- Montana: 37.4%
- Maryland: 37.2%
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Rhode Island: 36.5%
National Percentage: 33.5%
