Even if emissions trading isn't introduced, trucking industry just keeps getting cleaner
By Gary Worrall | June 24, 2010
New Prime Minister Julia Gillard, fresh from taking power in a bloodless coup, says she wants to re-introduce an emissions trading scheme if she wins the upcoming federal election. But even if she doesn’t, the transport industry just keeps getting cleaner.
While the original scheme proposed by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd included a funding pool to help introduce cleaner technologies, it was never explained if this would help operators buy new trucks to reduce their carbon footprint.
Regardless of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the transport industry is currently moving from ADR 80/02 to ADR80/03 which will see trucks of all sizes face toughest pollution restrictions in the country’s history.
Already, a number of manufacturers are offering Euro 5 compliance – one of the approved emission standards acceptable under ADR 80/03.
Cummins is preparing for the widespread introduction of its new EPA 07 ISX engine, complete with a particulate filter to trap soot in the exhaust.
Other manufacturers, as well as making clean diesel engines to meet ADR 80/03, are also introducing alternative fuels like compressed natural gas and liquid natural gas, as well as dual power supply trucks running a combination of diesel and electric engines for reduced emissions and better fuel economy.
Other technical advances include automated manual transmissions and latest generation automatic transmissions that use computer controls to keep the engine at its most efficient in a variety of driving situations, from hill climbing to stop-start traffic.