The new fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards would go into effect for 2018 model year vehicles, building upon the Phase 1 fuel economy and emissions standards that went into effect last year and build to 2018.
Phase 2 of the efficiency and emissions standards come from executive action taken by President Barack Obama in February 2014, when he ordered the DOT and EPA to develop the 2018 standards.
In a speech delivered then, Obama said heavy trucks represent just 4 percent of vehicles on U.S. highways yet produce 20 percent of all the transportation sector’s GHG emissions.
As the action comes from executive action rather than legislation, a successor to Obama could undo the action.
To take effect, the rule still must be cleared by the OMB and be published as a proposed rule in the Federal Register with a public comment period. Then, the DOT and EPA must develop a Final Rule and have it cleared by the OMB before publication.