A new report suggests tampering with emissions systems on Class 8 tractors in Alberta is significantly increasing NOx emissions and could cost up to $5.4 billion in adverse health effects.
The research was conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) with the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) in Alberta, as part of their The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) initiative.
The study found that 38% of model year 2010-2015 Class 8 tractors showed evidence of emissions system tampering or malfunctions. Researchers indicated this could increase total NOx emissions by 145% by 2035 compared to a properly functioning fleet. The study also indicated that excess pollution caused by these trucks could cause $5.4 billion in health damages in the province between 2024 and 2035.
The study’s authors concluded that the health impact could also cause 419 preventable deaths. They urged lawmakers to adopt three policies to address the issue: introducing federal anti-tampering legislation with financial penalties for the sale and services related to tampering; launching a provincial inspection and maintenance program to identify problem vehicles; and implementing remote sensing technology for real-time monitoring and enforcement.
“We found it particularly interesting to see the difference between estimated rates of tampered or malfunctioning tractor trucks in the Alberta province and the real-world data,” said Michelle Mayer, researcher with ICCT. “Our analysis showed once again the importance of collecting emissions data from vehicles on the road, enabling us to provide evidence to support sound policy that will improve air quality.”
The organizations note the U.S. already prohibits emissions system tampering under the Clean Air Act. It urges Canadian lawmakers to amend federal regulations here to prohibit the manufacture, sale and installation of equipment designed to defeat emissions systems.
A provincial inspection and maintenance program could be modeled after Ontario’s DriveON program, the researchers said, which requires annual emissions tests for heavy trucks.
And it says remote sensing technology is already used in Colorado and California to monitor emissions levels and identify vehicles with emissions systems that have been tampered with or are malfunctioning.
The full report can be found here.
