The non-profit organisation commissioned The Martec Group to look at the impact of more advanced diesel truck engines, emissions control systems, and cleaner diesel fuel over the past decade.
It found that the four million cleaner heavy-duty diesels introduced from 2007 through 2015 have saved 29 million tonnes of CO2, 7.5 million tonnes ofNOx and 218,000 tonnes of particulate matter (PM).
“It is clear from these findings that the new generation of clean diesel technology is delivering large and expanding benefits to society in the form of fewer emissions and lower fuel consumption,” says Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
“The reductions from the 2007 and newer trucks on the road today are equivalent to removing the CO2 emissions from 6.1 million light-duty cars from the road for one year, removing the NOx emissions from all light-duty cars for two years, and removing the particulate matter from all light-duty cars for six years,” he adds.
Schaeffer says 42% of all medium and heavy-duty diesel commercial trucks (Classes 3-8) in operation in the US – four million of 9.5 million diesel trucks – are now equipped with newer technology clean diesel engines; up from 38% last year. For Class 8 trucks running the newest generation (2010 and newer) engines, the new technology saved truckers $2,400 a year in fuel costs by using 875 fewer gallons of fuel (based on 125,000 miles travelled).