NG could displace diesel for GHG Phase II

Diesel dominates the US truck industry. Some experts, like Diesel Technology Forum’s Executive Director Allen Schaeffer, believe that diesels will play an integral role in meeting future legislation targets, namely the proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) Phase II targets enforced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Set to begin in MY2021, the standards are expected to cut CO2 emissions by approximately one billion metric tons and reduce oil consumption by nearly two billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the programme.

However, other experts think that diesels must be displaced with alternative fuels, like natural gas (NG), if the US truck segment is to meet targets. “The substitution of diesel with NG as a transportation fuel for medium- and heavy-duty trucks offers some attractive potential benefits in reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions,” said Clive Wotton, President, Ricardo.