Delivering the Green

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis indicates that retrofitting new and existing heavy-duty trucks with aerodynamic technologies and fuel-efficient tires could reduce national global warming pollution by 17 million metric tons of CO2eq by 2020. Such improvements could save over 1.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel nationally and 200 million gallons annually in California by 2020, while providing net savings of over $30,000 over the life of a typical new long-range truck.

• Implementing fuel-efficiency retrofits for new and in-use trucks and trailers could reduce national global warming pollution by 17 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2eq by 2020, which is equivalent to removing 2.5 million cars from the road.
• The use of the most fuel-efficient tires, aerodynamic technologies for trailers, and efficient new tractors can improve the efficiency of current tractors and trailers by more than 12 percent.
• For a typical new long-range truck driving 130,000 miles annually, these efficiency upgrades could save 2,000 gallons of diesel per year, with initial costs potentially offset within one year and net savings exceeding $30,000 over the vehicle's life.
• Nationwide, these improvements could reduce diesel consumption by more than 1.4 billion gallons and smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 470 tons by 2020. In California specifically, diesel consumption could be reduced by 5 percent (200 million gallons annually) by 2020.
• Widespread adoption of these technologies is hindered by barriers such as the frequent change of truck ownership, split ownership of tractors and trailers, and a lack of standardized fuel-economy testing data.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2008). Delivering the Green. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/delivering-the-green-fact-sheet.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Delivering the Green. 2008. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/delivering-the-green-fact-sheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Delivering the Green |date=28 October 2008 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/delivering-the-green-fact-sheet.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2008delivering, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Delivering the Green}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2008}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/delivering-the-green-fact-sheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }