Mandatory vehicle emission standards, as planned for the United States, would be 'too complex' for Australia
Mandatory vehicle emission standards, as planned for the United States, would be complex and unnecessary in Australia, truck manufacturers say.
Federal and state transport ministers are due to consider the US plan which will enforce a standard of 15km per litre on average for heavy vehicles by 2016, compared to the current average of 10km per litre.
But the Truck Industry Council (TIC) says while it may be viable for passenger cars, trucks are a different story.
“I think there are too many variables to consider when looking at a fuel scheme for trucks,” Executive Director Terry Pennington tells ATN.
“It’s a difficult one because you can’t just follow on from cars; bare in mind a truck can weigh anything from two tonnes to 150 tonnes, while a car on average weighs between one and two tonnes.
“It would be a long debate before you could come up with a realistic target.”
Pennington says although many countries around the world are planning to cut truck emissions, Australia is already doing its part in curbing transport pollution considering its unique transport industry.
“I think our trucks are as efficient as anywhere in the world,” he says.
“No one has as big a trucks as we do; you have to look at the country [size] and the freight distance that has to be moved.
“I think it would be a very long debate [regarding any scheme] before you came up with anything that was a realistic target.”
The Australian Conservation Foundation yesterday called on the transport ministers’ council, to meet tomorrow, to set mandatory fuel consumption standards for Australian-made cars, but did not put any demands in relation to heavy vehicles.