New Proposed Federal Fuel Efficiency Rules Reflect Work of Natural Gas Vehicle Advocates

Washington, DC – The Trump Administration’s Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks reflects significant work by Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) and other natural gas vehicle (NGV) advocates.  The recently-released proposed fuel efficiency requirements for light-duty vehicles suggest that natural gas is an important part of the climate change battle.

“This joint proposal by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency to update national automobile fuel-economy and greenhouse gas standards reflects a growing understanding in Washington that natural gas must be a growing part of the transportation fuel mix if we are to successfully address climate change concerns in a timely and cost-effective way,” said NGVAmerica President Dan Gage.  “NGVAmerica greatly appreciates the Administration’s work to offer a regulatory framework within which all alternative fuels including natural gas can compete based on their full emissions benefits.”

Among numerous natural gas citations, the August 2^nd notice includes, “EPA received input from several industry stakeholders who supported expanding [these] incentives to further incentivize vehicles capable of operating on natural gas, including treating incentives for natural gas vehicles on par with those for electric vehicles and other advanced technologies, and adjusting or removing the minimum range requirements for dual fueled CNG vehicles.”

In their April 2^nd announcement, EPA and DOT acknowledged that the current regulatory framework fails to account for the full scope of environmental benefits of other alternative fuel technologies like natural gas vehicles.

Natural gas has a strong record as a clean, zero emission-equivalent, domestically-available transportation fuel.  And when the newest Ultra Low-NOx natural gas engines are fueled with biogas – or renewable natural gas – captured from landfills, wastewater, and food and agricultural waste, its results are carbon neutral or even carbon negative.

“We are working so that, once concluded, this process to update fuel efficiency requirements will incentivize manufacturers to produce more NGVs and light-duty fleets to utilize more NGVs nationwide,” added Gage.  “Market realities prove consumers want choice.  Increased natural gas options should be one, but we need a level playing field to make that happen.”

As the rulemaking process continues, NGVAmerica will continue to work with its members to provide EPA and DOT guidance related to alternative fuel parity and incentives that expand the production and use of clean, domestically-fueled natural gas vehicles.

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NGVAmerica is a national organization of over 200 companies and organizations dedicated to the development of a growing, profitable, and sustainable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane. NGVAmerica members produce, distribute, and market natural gas and biomethane across North America, manufacture and service natural gas vehicles, engines, and equipment, and operate fleets powered by clean-burning gaseous fuels. Find out more at: www.ngvamerica.org.