Energy Vision’s latest report, “A Path to a Healthier America: Ditching Old Diesel Trucks,” assesses options for doing exactly that. We looked at 31 of the most populous counties in the U.S. – including the 10 largest metropolitan areas – and how to replace the oldest 20% of the heavy-duty diesel trucks still in operation there: 130,000 highly polluting vehicles built prior to 2013.
Map of the 31 Highly Populated and Polluted Counties Analyzed in The Report
Diesel is the most polluting vehicle fuel on U.S. roadways. Diesel exhaust contains carcinogenic particulate matter and other harmful chemicals that contribute to smog, haze, and acid rain. It poses a major ongoing health risk to the 77 million residents of these 31 counties, including the 16.7 million children whose health is most sensitive to diesel fumes. Heavy-duty diesel trucks built prior to 2013 have the worst emissions of all, yet they’re still widely in use on U.S. roadways. Over 95% of the 5.2 million Class 7 and 8 vehicles operating today run on diesel, and almost half of those – 2.4 million heavy-duty trucks – were built prior to 2013.
It is critical that these oldest, most polluting heavy-duty diesel trucks be permanently retired and scrapped (NOT sold into poorer, less-regulated countries) as soon as possible. But what cleaner options could replace them?
The study analyzed the health benefits, costs, commercial availability, and performance of the three major cleaner non-fossil-fuel options to replace the 130,000 oldest heavy-duty diesel vehicles in these counties:
- New diesel models running on renewable diesel (RD), typically made from vegetable oil;
- New compressed natural gas models running on renewable natural gas (RNG) sourced from organic waste; and
- New battery electric vehicles (EVs).
Our findings show new RNG models to be the overall winner with massive reductions in air pollutants as well as being affordable, high-performing, and widely available today.
Cumulative Healthcare Savings Nationwide from Switching the Oldest 20% of Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles in the 31 Counties to New RD, RNG, or Electric Models (Were They Available) Over Their 15-Year Lifespans
Source: Energy Vision
Replacing the oldest 20% of heavy-duty diesel vehicles with new RNG models in these 31 highly populated counties would have the following impacts nationwide:
- Avoid 104-147 total deaths per year
- Avoid 230 total emergency rooms visits for respiratory issues annually
- Avoid 662 onsets of asthma per year
The heavy-duty RD option is the least expensive, high-performing and widely available now, but the emissions reductions and the resultant health benefits are the smallest of all the options. The RD option is also much less cost-effective than the RNG option over the trucks’ 15-year lifespan.
Meanwhile, heavy-duty EVs would provide the greatest emissions reductions and health benefits. But their limited availability plus their very high purchasing premium and performance shortcomings mean heavy-duty EVs are not feasible for the mass replacement of old heavy-duty diesel vehicles in at least the next few years.
The report found that new RNG trucks like the tractor trailer pictured above (fuel stored behind the cab) are the best replacement for old diesel trucks. (Source: Clean Energy)
The progress on replacing older heavy-duty diesel vehicles with new, cleaner models – whether running on RD, RNG, or electricity – is ultimately dependent on the choices fleet managers make at the municipal or company level. And even without federal support at this time, state and municipal incentives as well as community advocacy can still drive the transition forward.
