Pasadena, Calif. – Today a blue-ribbon Task
Force of more than forty truck industry leaders from fleets, the manufacturing
sector and suppliers called for performance-based incentives and policies to
accelerate American leadership in the global advanced truck market. Their
recommendations are part of a report released today by CALSTART, “Speeding
High-Efficiency Truck Adoption.” The top measures called for
include:
- A voucher purchase program for high efficiency heavy-duty (HEHD) trucks that rewards technologies that provide multiple benefits
- Expanded R&D funding targeted at efficient truck technologies
- Grants to support expanded domestic manufacturing of advanced trucks and components
CALSTART convened the Task Force to
identify key user and industry needs and help develop the recommendations
contained in the report. The critical supporting policies and incentives
are designed to ensure that new truck fuel economy and carbon emission
regulations proposed by the federal government – and the benefits from those
regulations – have the best chance of transforming the trucking sector.
Task Force members support the new regulations, but felt the regulations alone
were not sufficient.
“High efficiency trucks are a win-win not
only for the people that produce and use these trucks, but for our nation
overall. Ultimately, the truck industry and fleets want to see a transition
toward more efficient trucks, but to get there they need support from a
comprehensive policy package that includes both carrots and sticks,” said
CALSTART President and CEO John Boesel.
The Task Force cites upfront technology
cost as the largest barrier to faster adoption of more efficient technology and
identified several strategies to improve the economics and speed the transition
to more efficient trucks. Primary among the recommendations is an
innovative incentive structure for accelerating clean truck purchases. The Task
Force calls for a novel “next generation” voucher incentive program that is
performance-based, with greater funding going to solutions that provide greater
overall benefits. The idea is that the incentive levels should partially
reward users for the multiple benefits provided by different advanced
technologies, including air quality improvement, petroleum reduction, and
climate change benefits. This is a departure from most existing incentive
programs, which either target specific technologies or focus on just one policy
goal, such as reductions in smog forming emissions.
The CALSTART report also highlights a need
for substantial Research and Development (R&D) funding for advanced truck
technologies. Fleets, manufacturers, and suppliers in the Task Force all
identified ongoing R&D funding as a key industry need, particularly in the
medium- to long- term.
Finally, the report recommends
manufacturing grants as a key way to support the domestic manufacturing of
advanced trucks and truck technologies. Passenger car manufacturers have access
to this sort of support through the federal Advanced Vehicle Technology
Manufacturing Incentive Program. The report recommends expanding this program
to include medium- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturing. CALSTART and the Task
Force members believe this would support the growth of the domestic high
efficiency truck industry while reducing costs and supporting the transition to
cleaner trucks.
Funding for the report, “Speeding
High-Efficiency Truck Adoption: Recommended Policies, Incentives and
Investments,” was provided by the Energy Foundation. A downloadable copy
is available at http://www.calstart.org/Libraries/Publications/Speeding_High-Efficiency_Truck_Adoption.sflb.ashx.
A full list of Task Force members is part of the report. Task Force member comments are available online at http://www.calstart.org/News_and_Publications/CALSTART-in-the-news/CALSTART-Press-Releases/Speeding-High-Efficiency-Truck-Adoption/Task-Force-Comments.aspx.
A full list of Task Force members is part of the report. Task Force member comments are available online at http://www.calstart.org/News_and_Publications/CALSTART-in-the-news/CALSTART-Press-Releases/Speeding-High-Efficiency-Truck-Adoption/Task-Force-Comments.aspx.
CALSTART is the only organization working nationally to foster the rapid growth of the entire clean transportation technology industry. Building on its strong base of knowledge and operations in California, CALSTART serves as a catalyst for the comprehensive clean transportation industry as a way to create more jobs, clean the air, make the country more secure, and reduce the threat of global warming. CALSTART manages leading edge technology programs while providing value-added services to its 130 member companies and consulting clients. For more information visit: www.calstart.org.
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