Clean Diesel Trucks At All Time High Operation In Pennsylvania

by Jake Tully - Published: 8/04/2017

The state of Pennsylvania has experienced an increase of environmentally conscious practices by way of introducing clean diesel trucks on the roads, comprising an overall 35% of commercial vehicles in the state.

The non-profit organization Diesel Technology Forum announced earlier today that the reported 35% of clean diesel trucks in Pennsylvania over the last five years has accounted for saving billions of gallons of fuel and reducing emissions substantially over the course of the studied time period.

Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum reports that the adoption of clean vehicles in Pennsylvania has had a significant impact in reducing the environmental presence that standard commercial vehicles may have otherwise produced. 

"Almost 3 million heavy-duty diesel commercial vehicles introduced in the U.S. from 2011 through 2016 now on the road powered by the latest generation clean diesel engines, and these trucks have delivered important benefits in the form of cleaner air, fewer carbon dioxide emissions and dramatic fuel savings,” said Schaeffer. “Over a 5 year period, the newest generation commercial vehicles have saved 4.2 billion gallons of diesel fuel, and reduced 43 million tonnes (sic) of carbon dioxide (CO2), 21 million tonnes of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 1.2 million tonnes of particulate matter."

Schaeffer reports that the national average of implementation in clean diesel technology across the country is up to 30 percent after 25.7 percent in 2016.

According to research from the Diesel Technology Forum, nationwide adoption of clean diesel trucks will provide significant environmental benefits to areas and communities across the country.

"Pennsylvania, with 35 percent of commercial trucks equipped with the latest generation clean diesel technology ranks sixth and exceeds the national average adoption rate of 30 percent,” said Schaeffer. “These new technology clean diesel trucks have saved 222 million gallons of diesel fuel, resulting in 2.2 million fewer tons of C02 while slashing 900,000 tons of NOx emissions.”

Schaeffer also reports that states who embrace clean diesel trucks will find that they may also find a strategy that brings clean air faster than other policies.

Diesel Truck Forum’s findings reportedly stem from a benefits research campaign conducted by IHS Markit, a technical marketing research firm operating globally.