The following is a letter sent today, August 16, 2016 from Mike Britt, the Director of Advanced Engineering for United Parcel Service to Chris Grundler, the Director of the Office of Transportation and Quality, the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Britt also serves as the Chair of the CALSTART Board of Directors. 

Today the EPA and NHTSA released their final regulations requiring increased efficiency and fuel economy in the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sector from 2019 to 2027.  We applaud the two agencies for doing a thorough, professional, and comprehensive assessment of the current state and potential of future technology.

We need and can achieve much higher efficiency in our trucks. The fuel economy targets established by the agencies are both forward looking and feasible.  We believe the long lead times should allow the truck manufacturers and suppliers ample time to plan for and prepare for the implementation of the necessary technologies.

We have heard claims some technologies may not be reliable enough by 2027.  This can be avoided if manufacturers avoid delays.  We know technologies validated in programs like Super Truck and in labs across the country are ready for market introductions. We call on the truck and engine makers to speed the validating and deploying of higher efficiency systems and technologies.  And we call on the Department of Energy and other federal and state agencies to work with the manufacturers and suppliers to provide critical funding for the development and testing of advanced truck technologies and components.

We work with companies worldwide pursuing a broad array of new technologies and approaches. But we know the technology exists in the United States for significantly greater fuel economy.  This new set of regulations will encourage innovation and has the potential to spur domestic economic growth.

In the long-run, these regulations will make trucking operations in the United States stronger by reducing its dependence on oil and making our economy less vulnerable to the fluctuations of a single global commodity.

We look forward to work the truck manufacturers, suppliers,and other fleets to successfully implement this important new set of regulations.