Fuel Economy With New Legislation

Compared to light-duty vehicles like vans, SUVs, and pick-up trucks, medium and

heavy-duty trucks get terrible fuel economy.

The heavier trucks get about a third to half as much mileage per gallon.

However, legislation in this 2015 may potentially improve that issue while also

reducing the output of harmful emissions.

Fuel Economy in Medium and Heavy Trucks

The new legislation targets vehicle models in the range of the years 2021 to 2027.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have brought together the potential standards with the help of suggestions from a few third-

party organizations.

While on the highway, I only see black smokes from two types of vehicles: the

larger 18-wheeler types and older model vehicles that should have already been

retired.

It seems nice that environmental laws will catch up with legislation already made for

light-duty trucks.

Even if it might require an investment ahead of time, those who purchase medium and heavy-duty trucks will benefit in the fuel

economy.

Thus, the developing laws will help companies save currency in the long run.

The Obama administration initially started the movement for better fuel economy in

heavier trucks.

Discussing politics does not make good table talk,

but I support the effort’s notion.

As I understand the idea currently in 2015, the process has gone through two phases so

far.

Phase One began in 2011.

Phase Two of the standards should occur in 2016.

Volvo has already dedicated itself to engine designs for that certain Phase.

Recognition that incompatibilities will likely arise brings even more interested third-

parties into the discussions.

Acceptance of the future standards will expectedly arrive in a sluggish manner.

That includes a reason why the legislation will affect medium and heavy duty trucks in

2021 to 2027.

Requiring upgrades earlier than that would meet resistance.

Fuel Economy with Volvo

In its own plans, Volvo has released a new technology that helps fuel economy.

The vehicle manufacturer names its technique Adaptive Loading.

It controls where most of the weight resides on a truck’s tires, depending on which

rubber meets the most weight.

The efficiency results in less degradation of the tires, which means fewer replacements, and the mileage per gallon ratio improves to

as much as 9 MPG.

Feedback from companies testing the technology have given the feature high

regard.

So far, the potential standards appear as a decent beginning.

Not only will greenhouse gases become reduced, but diesel fuel will become longer

lasting for newer vehicle models.

In a world where news media prefer bad reports, this particular advancement in fuel

economy rings like beautiful music.