Manufacturers of HD trucks and engines endorse harmonized global standards

11 November 2013

The world’s leading manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks and engines endorsed a harmonized global approach in improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from commercial vehicles. Meeting in Chicago, the chief executives of manufacturers in Europe, Japan, and the United States discussed fuel efficiency and GHG emissions reductions, diesel fuel specifications, and topics related to heavy-duty engine and vehicle regulation and certification.

The meeting was chaired by Tom Linebarger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins Inc. This was the eleventh meeting of the chief executives to discuss global issues and address challenges facing commercial vehicle and engine manufacturers.

Summarizing the meeting, Tom Linebarger said, “Over the last decade engine and vehicle manufacturers have successfully reduced emissions to near zero levels. Having developed technologies to reduce criteria emissions, commercial engine and vehicle manufacturers are now focused on improving energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions to better serve our customers and improve the global environment. We can best accomplish that when government and industry work together to achieve a common goal, using an agreed-upon set of compatible standards and global measurement procedures. The outcome of our meetings in Chicago today was to affirm our commitment to work with governments around the world to establish a set of aligned global standards and measurement procedures related to fuel quality, energy efficiency improvements and GHG reductions.”

At the meeting, the manufacturers agreed to continue their efforts to develop improved and harmonized fuels, testing, and certification practices and procedures related to criteria emissions reductions, fuel efficiency improvements and GHG reductions. “As manufacturers of products used across the globe, our ability to introduce new and innovative technologies is hindered by conflicting and inefficient regulatory requirements adopted in different countries” continued Tom Linebarger. “Assuring that European, Japanese, and North American regulators adopt coordinated and compatible specifications, procedures and approval requirements related to improved fuel quality, exhaust emissions and energy efficiency standards will significantly improve our ability to effectively meet the needs of our commercial vehicle customers as well as global environmental goals.”

The chief executives discussed topics related to:

• adoption of a world-wide heavy-duty emissions certification procedure,
• harmonization of fuel specifications and regulations,
• progress in the harmonization of fuel efficiency assessment methods including vehicle simulation modeling,
• fuel efficiency improvements and GHG reductions, and
• requirements for certification of heavy-duty hybrid vehicles.

Susumu Hosoi, President of Isuzu Motors Ltd., extended an invitation to the chief executives to hold their 2014 meeting in Tokyo.

Source: ACEA | JAMA