Rat Killing

November 04, 2008

 

In the rethinking of our transportation systems, cars lend themselves to solutions that absolutely or drastically reduce use of oil (all electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles). Trucks, because of their size, weight and travel patterns, do not. For trucks, it's less rat killing and more like woolly mammoth slaying. A dozen hunters with spears and some patience. But there are things being done, including this: up for vote in December rules from California that could reduce truck fuel consumption by over twelve percent.

California's rules focus simply on two things: better tires and aerodynamic shaping, see slides here. It's a pretty powerful offering, because truckers would save money (over $30,000 on a two year payback for new, long-haul trucks, but even some savings for retrofitting twelve year old trucks). The reason the market doesn't just free-hand this: many trucks are owned by independents and small companies, who can't necessarily scrounge up the money upfront, or may intend to sell the rig in a year or so (the EPA may help, by making loans available through its SmartWay program).

Other things in the hunt:

• burly Wal-Mart streamlining its fleet
• the move freight to rail approach
• Rocky Mountain Institute's lightweighting efforts

The trucks targeted by the new rules represent two thirds of California's diesel use. The proposed rules could be a well placed spear in the hunt to bring down our mammoth use of oil.

Photo: jormungund on flickr