http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2000/2000L-12-18-09.html Environment News Service: AmeriScan: December 18, 2000
Website Helps Diesel Truck, Bus Fleets Run Cleaner WASHINGTON, DC, December 18, 2000 (ENS) - A new website from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - http://www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit - provides information on retrofitting diesel vehicles to help fleets run more cleanly. Nationwide, heavy duty diesel vehicles contribute 15 percent of the nation's emissions of smog causing nitrogen oxides and 22 percent of particulate matter, or soot, emissions. In urban areas, their contribution to air pollution can be even greater. An older, dirtier diesel truck or bus can emit almost eight tons of pollution in a year, which amounts to 160 to 240 tons of pollution over the life of an engine. To address the need for cleaner diesel vehicles, EPA created the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program to match fleet operators, engine manufacturers, local governments with those who can provide the appropriate technology and resources in cleaning up dirty trucks, buses and construction equipment. The website also provides information to help manufacturers have their retrofit technologies verified by EPA for appropriate use, and shows state officials how to incorporate diesel retrofits into their air quality plans. EPA has already obtained commitments from fleet operators to retrofit more than 5,000 diesel vehicles. EPA will address emissions from new heavy duty vehicles and engines through a two part regulatory strategy, beginning with 2004 models. In other automotive news, the EPA said Friday that the average fuel economy of new model year 2000 vehicles is 24.0 miles per gallon (mpg), the lowest as it has been since 1980. Fuel economy remains at a 20 year low because light trucks - including sport utility vehicles, vans, minivans and pickup trucks - are less fuel efficient and make up almost half of the U.S. light vehicle market. More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm. * -------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977228256/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
