Are Diesel Trucks Going Extinct?
It’s no secret that many commercial trucks use diesel to plow down highways across Canada.
Cheaper than gasoline, this is the fuel of choice for most truckers, and more often than not it’s standard on big trucks. Diesel has been known to transfer more emissions than regular gasoline, as evident by its black smoke. With eco-friendly driving at the centre of today’s trucking technology, this could be a major factor in discontinuing diesel altogether.
Many brands, Hino included, have taken the necessary steps to ensure that all of their commercial trucks meet the standards for emissions testing in each province. But, what about truck drivers that need to enter the United States?
New emissions laws are making things even more complicated. Here’s what you need to know:
Diesel Laws Are Getting Tougher
Back in 2008, the State of California passed a diesel emissions standards law, which, at the time, was said to be the toughest in the nation. All heavy transport vehicles like busses and trucks were mandated to undergo heavy retrofitting to replace older diesel engines. Back in 2008, heavy-duty big rigs were the largest remaining source of unregulated diesel emissions, responsible for 32 percent of the smog-forming emissions and nearly 40 percent of the cancer-causing emissions from diesel mobile sources.
Since the law passed in California, more than one million vehicles were replaced or upgraded, with a law requiring smog filters on any diesel-operated vehicle. By 2023, no truck or bus will be allowed to be more than 13 years old unless it has special equipment to cut nitrogen oxide emissions. In the fight against climate change and the promotion of good health, cracking down on excess diesel emissions means that truck companies must reinvent themselves for the future, which is exactly what Hino has done, and continues to work for.
Hino Goes Green
In 2010, the EPA 2010 emission regulations require more than an 80% reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) compared to the EPA 2007 emission levels. Going green is becoming more and more crucial in the fight against pollution. To meet and comply with those standards, Hino started using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology on all new trucks. SCR is an after-exhaust treatment system that’s been proven in Japan and Europe. It filters out and eliminates harmful nitrogen oxide gases from the exhaust.
Hino’s SCR systems are now standard on all Hino 2010 EPA models and newer models. Hino has also gone above and beyond to develop a hybrid diesel truck, the Hino 195h Diesel-Electric Cabover. The creation of a diesel-hybrid means an impressive amount of fuel savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower operating costs and an innovative approach to commercial truck driving in North America. Emissions laws are getting tougher in both Canada and the United States, but as long as you’re driving a Hino, you’ll be just fine in either country.
Are you looking for an environmentally-friendly truck that doesn’t sacrifice performance? Check out our new Hino inventory, where you’ll find the impressive SCR technology present. Call us today at 1-(877) 650-6296 or contact us online for further assistance.
