A new report from Energy Vision, a sustainability-focused nonprofit organization based in New York, has concluded that renewable natural gas (RNG)-powered trucks are the most effective alternative for replacing aging heavy-duty diesel trucks.
The report, titled “A Path to a Healthier America: Ditching Old Diesel Trucks,” examines three non-petroleum options to replace heavy-duty diesel trucks built before 2013. Diesel trucks contribute significantly to air pollution, and according to Energy Vision, 2.4 million of them are still in operation across the U.S.
The study evaluates various alternatives, including renewable diesel from vegetable oils and animal fats, battery electric vehicles (EVs), and compressed natural gas trucks powered by RNG made from organic waste. The assessment focuses on factors like health benefits, cost, commercial availability, performance, and greenhouse gas reductions. Based on these criteria, RNG-powered trucks were found to be the best overall option.
The report highlights that fleet operators have several alternatives for replacing old diesel trucks. The least expensive option is to purchase new diesel trucks and fuel them with renewable diesel. This choice offers 66% of the health benefits of EVs but avoids the high upfront costs associated with electric trucks. Renewable diesel can reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86% compared to fossil diesel, depending on the feedstock used.
However, the report found that EVs are the most costly option. Electric trucks typically cost $250,000 more than their diesel counterparts. Additionally, EVs face performance challenges, such as limited range, reduced cargo capacity, and long charging times. While EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, the electricity used to charge them still comes largely from fossil fuels.
In contrast, RNG-powered trucks are widely available and offer a practical solution for replacing diesel vehicles on a large scale. According to the report, trucks using RNG deliver 88% of the health benefits of electric vehicles and potentially offer the lowest life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to other technologies.
While RNG trucks cost between $35,000 and $75,000 more than new diesel models, the higher purchase price is offset by fuel savings, the report notes. Energy Vision estimates that replacing 130,000 old diesel trucks with RNG vehicles could save at least $680 million annually in fuel costs, based on historical average prices. Additionally, maintenance costs for RNG-powered trucks are similar to those for renewable diesel trucks.
Michael Lerner, Energy Vision’s director of research and publications and lead author of the report, emphasized the benefits of RNG trucks. “RNG is in the sweet spot for replacing the oldest, dirtiest diesel trucks,” he said. “This study found that RNG trucks provide the greatest climate benefits, with reductions in toxic air pollutants almost as significant as EVs. They cost far less, perform better, and are readily available using existing infrastructure. RNG is also more cost-effective than renewable diesel, considering lifetime health benefits and fuel savings. For heavy transport, RNG is the smart choice.”
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