GHG Phase 2, EPA21

The EPA (circa 2016) stated that current diesel engines are around 40 percent efficient over a range of operating conditions depending on engine sizes and applications. 

• Engines:  Approximately one-third of the fuel’s chemical energy is converted to useful work and roughly two-thirds is lost to friction, gas exchange, and waste heat in the coolant and exhaust. 

• Vehicle-related losses:  Defined as aerodynamic drag, tire rolling resistance, friction in the vehicle driveline, and to provide auxiliary power for components such as air conditioning and lights combat engine gains.

• Vehicle operation:  Vehicle speed and idle time, affects the amount of total energy required to complete its activity. 

While the engine manufacturers step up to improve fuel efficiencies, it is the truck OEs job to reduce vehicle related losses to lower energy waste. You will see many subtle changes for 2021.

Engine OEs will be releasing new engines for 1/2021. While the original cost of the engine may carry an upcharge, you will see a push toward a reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TOC), partnered with On Board Diagnostics (OBD). TOC is achieved with extended maintenance cycles and Oil Drain Intervals (ODI), as well as extended Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) life. Predictive shifting and braking, plus adaptive load sensing will be employed to reach maximum fuel savings. The engines have physical differences in the areas of turbo, cylinder pressures, and software. Downspeeding expands.

Tractor OEs will continue to improve aerodynamics and weight of their product offerings. They look to employ technologies to reduce idle time and limit speed. There are additionally changes to tires and new products from drivetrain suppliers to further reduce friction.

Trucks, newly added for 2021, have requirements beyond just tire rolling resistance. Vocational vehicles represent about 17 percent of the total medium- and heavy-duty fuel consumption. The vocational vehicle standards are differentiated using vehicle weights and driving cycle. The agencies project that the vocational vehicle standards could be met through improvements in the engine, transmission, driveline, lower rolling resistance tires, workday idle reduction technologies, weight reduction, and some application of hybrid technology. Same focus as tractors, minus the aerodynamics.

The final phase two program (which continues to 2027) promotes a new generation of cleaner, more fuel-efficient tractors by encouraging the development and deployment of new and advanced cost-effective technologies. The final standards are expected to lower CO2 emissions by approximately 1.1billion metric tons, save vehicle owners fuel costs of about $170 billion, and reduce oil consumption by up to two billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program. 

Your OE has you covered in meeting the regulations, just don’t be surprised when 2021 vehicles are specified differently than what your client may be accustomed to. If you want to review all 1116 pages of Phase II, the link below will provide you a copy.

https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100P7NS.PDF?Dockey=P100P7NS.PDF