A recent ATA submission about fuel standards outlines ways the nation can improve fuel quality and streamline the zero-emissions transition
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has shared its submission to the department of climate change, energy, the environment and water (DCCEEW) where it calls for better fuel for cleaner vehicles.
The submission, which was lodged on December 16 last year, replied to the DCEEW’s draft regulation impact statement on the current standards of Australian diesel.
The ATA says the statement was developed to understand if a change was needed to support Euro 6d light diesel vehicles and Euro VI heavy vehicles.
The ATA supports the DCEEW’s stance that changes must be made to bring the Australian diesel standard in line with the EU and that diesel quality wasn’t a barrier to implementing more stringent noxious emission standards.
“This submission supports the department’s conclusion that no changes to the diesel standard are required for Euro VI trucks,” the ATA says.
“We also recommend further separate measures to improve air quality in Australia’s major cities.”
The ATA says it supports the department’s finding that the diesel standard doesn’t need to be changed to support the efficient operation of Euro VI trucks, as it hasn’t received any reports of operability issues associated with the fuel quality.
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When it comes to the proposal to potentially change fuel standards to align them with the European Union’s standards, the ATA says this option would have distributional impacts that aren’t captured in the initial impact statement.
“The ATA agrees with the calculated regulatory burden of $19.1 million per year on diesel fuel users, but we consider that the decision should further explore the impact of the option on small trucking businesses,” the ATA says.
Instead of this option, the ATA wants to see the implementation of ADR 80/04 completed alongside associated mass and dimension changes.
This is the design rule that mandates Euro VI and the equivalent US/ Japanese standards.
Alongside this, the ATA also wants to see continued support for fleet renewal while also witnessing industry supporting for the uptake of zero-emission trucks in Australia.
“Further policy reform would accelerate the uptake of zero-emission trucks, including reforms to vehicle design rules, further investment in electric charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for trucks, and a broadly available temporary purchase price incentive,” the ATA says.