How do trucks cause air pollution

New research shows that heavy trucks may indeed be the key to tackling air pollution levels. In , Class 8 heavy-duty trucks accounted for only 1 percent of on-road vehicles in the U. However, they consumed almost 29 billion gallons of fuel, or 17 percent of total fuel consumed by highway vehicles. In addition, diesel has been the main source of fuel for decades, and over 92 percent of trucks were using fossil fuels at the time of research.

Jumping ahead three years, the Environmental Protection Agency EPA released statistics in showing that the transportation sector was responsible for 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Of that 28 percent, 60 percent was caused by light-duty vehicles and 23 percent by medium- and heavy-duty trucks. To put this into perspective, electricity production also emitted 28 percent of greenhouse gases.

The next sector in line was industry, at 22 percent, and agriculture, commercial and residential made up the remaining 19 percent. Along those lines, Reuters reports that in the EU, large trucks produce 25 percent of the total transport emissions on the road although they represent only 5 percent of vehicle traffic. In Canada, freight movement of goods by truck, plane, ship or rail accounted for With all the health issues air pollution can cause, governments are trying to do something about it.

Japan has the toughest restrictions on emissions in Asia and the world, and was also the first to enact fuel economy regulations for heavy-duty vehicles, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation ICCT.

Truck and bus manufacturers in Japan are moving from diesel to hybrid and electric vehicle technology. Hino Motors Ltd has invested in artificial intelligence to increase fuel efficiency in its large diesel-electric hybrid truck coming out in The EPA Clean Diesel Program provides grants and rebates to reduce emissions from diesel engines and improve air quality.

On September 28, , the Government of Ontario announced it would redesign the Drive Clean program for light-duty vehicles to focus instead on heavy-duty vehicles. From the start of the program in up to , emissions test failures by passenger cars dropped from 16 percent to 5 percent.

That has not been the case for trucks, though. Lack of progress in truck emissions is attributed to slow replacement of older models and weaker regulations on vehicle emissions. A model study conducted by the Clean Energy Research Centre and the University of British Columbia investigated the impact of all-electric freight trucks all classes, from light to heavy-duty on greenhouse gas GHG emissions. To achieve a target of 64 percent reduction in GHG emissions in British Columbia by , over 65 percent of freight trucks in B.

In addition, the study estimated that for every 1 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 1. To reach that goal, the near-term standards for climate pollution must be as strong as possible, as soon as possible.

Join moms in telling EPA to finalize the strongest possible climate pollution limits on cars and light trucks. See more resources about Cars and Trucks ». Read more articles about Cars and Trucks ». See more Cars and Trucks resources ». Facebook Twitter instagram. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer How do cars and trucks affect our air? The transportation sector is the largest source of climate pollution in the US.

How does the pollution from cars and trucks harm you? What are the Clean Car Standards? Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe.

Under the Hood. Traffic moves slowly on a highway in the Iranian capital of Tehran as high levels of air pollution engulf the city, Jan. Cars are a major contributor to air pollution and the health consequences it causes worldwide. Particulate matter — a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air that contribute to atmospheric haze and can damage your lungs and get into your bloodstream.

Carbon monoxide CO — cars emit carbon monoxide when fuel is burned. Breathing air with a high concentration of CO affects critical organs like your heart and brain. According to the Environmental Protection Agency , as much as 95 percent of all CO emissions in cities may come from motor vehicle exhaust. Nitrogen dioxide NO2 — when fuel burns, nitrogen and oxygen react with each other and form nitrogen oxides NOx. Nitrogen Dioxide NO2 forms from emissions from cars, trucks, buses, power plants and off-road equipment.

Breathing air with a high concentration of NO2 can affect the respiratory system. The pollutants that cars emit can cause several health complications, including cancer, asthma, eye irritation, poisoning, heart disease and birth defects. What percentage of air pollution is caused by vehicles? The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that vehicles cause nearly 75 percent of the carbon monoxide pollution in the United States. The Environmental Defense Fund estimates that transportation causes nearly 27 percent of greenhouse emissions.

How does car pollution affect the environment? Vehicle pollution contributes to global warming as greenhouse gases heat the planet and deplete the ozone layer. This is causing the average global temperatures to rise, leading to rising sea levels, an increase in natural disasters and other domino effect events. Cite This!