Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations

Last updated: 5 November 2017
On April 13, 2012, the Government of Canada announced proposed regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new on-road heavy-duty vehicles. These proposed regulations would reduce emissions from the whole range of on-road heavy-duty vehicles and engines, including large pick-up trucks, short/long-haul tractors, cement and garbage trucks, buses, and more, for the 2014 model year and beyond. They would allow the Government of Canada to continue establishing emission standards and test procedures that are aligned with those of the United States.
The objective of the Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations (the Regulations) is to reduce GHG emissions by establishing mandatory GHG emission standards for new on-road heavy-duty vehicles and engines that are aligned with U.S. national standards. The development of common North American standards will provide a level playing field that will lead North American manufacturers to produce more advanced vehicles, which enhances their competitiveness.The Regulations apply to companies manufacturing and importing new on-road heavy-duty vehicles and engines of the 2014 and later model years for the purpose of sale in Canada including the whole range of on-road heavy-duty full-size pickup trucks, vans, tractors and buses, as well as a wide variety of vocational vehicles such as freight, delivery, service, cement, and dump trucks.
The Regulations will also include provisions that establish compliance flexibilities which include a system for generating, banking and trading emission credits. The Regulations also include additional credits for hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, as well as for innovative technologies to reduce GHG emissions. The Regulations include further flexibilities for companies to use a phased-in approach for model year 2014 through 2016 tractors and vocational vehicles. Companies are also required to submit annual reports and maintain records relating to the GHG emission performance of their vehicles and fleets. In 2015, Phase II was introduced to further regulate GhG emissions. These more stringent regulations will come into force for 2018 model trailers and between 2021-2027 for tractors and heavy truck engines.

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