WARRENVILLE, Ill. — One year after US President Barack Obama announced a multi-million-dollar pledge to develop and deploy electric trucks at an Indiana-based Navistar facility, the manufacturer’s eStar all-electric truck is now coming off the production line.

Following a production kick-off at the Wakarusa, Ind. plant in May and introductory launch events in Portland, Ore., and Sacramento, Calif., in May and June, Navistar officials say the eStar all-electric truck is generating significant interest in the marketplace.

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WASHINGTON – Mandatory stability control systems for highway trucks could prevent nearly 3,500 rollover-related accidents and save over 100 lives a year, the National Transportation Safety Board heard this week.

According to the Associated Press, Nathaniel Beuse, director of crash avoidance standards at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the NTSB at a hearing that the agency is wrapping up studies on the benefits of requiring stability control technology on trucks by the end of the year.

Based on research by the NHTSA and the University of Michigan, Beuse said stability control would prevent 106 highway deaths and 4,400 injuries annually.

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Alcoa Wheels has launched Version 2.0 of CalcuLighter, which the company said is the easy-to-use online tool designed to provide commercial vehicle fleet managers and owner-operators the kind of detailed information they need when making wheel buying decisions to lower operating costs, improve productivity and reduce greenhouse gases.

The calculation tool provides financial data with instant results for comparing steel and aluminum wheel alternatives. The tool calculates fuel, payload, scrap value and wheel maintenance information with N.A.D.A. Official Commercial Truck Guide trade-in value and carbon emission data to compare different investment results when selecting between wheel alternatives.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, July 22, awarded $5.6 million for emerging technologies projects as part of a summer-long roll out of $120 million in clean diesel grants. The awards will provide opportunities to advance cutting-edge technologies in the marketplace, and support both environmental innovation and green jobs to reduce diesel emissions.

“We’re playing to America’s strengths of ingenuity and invention to improve the future of our economy, our health and our environment,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.”

Most clean diesel grants involve widely used strategies such as retrofits or replacements. However, the emerging technologies program promotes deployment of innovative approaches that have not yet been verified or certified by EPA or the California Air Resources Board. Instead, the program enables evaluation of these promising technologies in the field.

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The American Trucking Associations asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to stay before the effective date its new policy on supporting documents pending revisions the association proposes. Although the agency has not responded, it implicitly disregarded ATA’s July 8 request by notifying a federal appeals court that it had adopted the policy on retention of documents and the use of electronic mobile communication/tracking technology as an alternative to certain documents.

In comments on the policy, which was published June 10 and made effective July 12, ATA said it had serious concerns with portions of the guidance “that we believe depart substantially from prior agency policy and go well beyond the bounds of what the agency may do in guidance.”

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UPS Offers Customers Ability to Offset Carbon Emissions from Shipments

UPS has expanded its carbon neutral shipping program to 35 countries and territories across Europe, Asia and the Americas. UPS says millions more customers now have the option of paying a small fee to calculate and offset the carbon emissions associated with their shipments. The new offerings, including a contract version for customers who want to offset the carbon impact of all their shipments, will be available starting Monday, July 12.

In addition to the international expansion, UPS says it is expanding access to the program in the United States, making it available to all shippers at UPS.com and those who use UPS CampusShip. Online retailers who have integrated UPS into their websites will be able to offer their customers access to UPS carbon neutral. Customers who visit The UPS Store locations and other retail locations soon will have access to the option.

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Delaware became the 30th state to ban texting while driving when Gov. Jack Markell signing a tough new anti-distraction law that bans drivers in the state from using handheld cell phones while driving and sets strict penalties for texting behind the wheel.

The new law creates a comprehensive statewide restriction on handheld cell phone use. The measure also prohibits drivers from text messaging, sending or reading e-mails or browsing websites while a vehicle is in motion. Under the law, the first offense carries a penalty of $50, while a second offense carries a fine of $100 to $200. The law is primary, meaning police can stop drivers if they suspect a violation of this law alone.

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Massachusetts Text Ban Toughest on Teens

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick last week signed a tough new anti-distraction law that bans texting while driving and sets strict penalties for the practice. Massachusetts is the 29th state to ban texting behind the wheel.

The new Massachusetts bill will fine adults $100 for texting as a first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for a third. Drivers younger than 18, if caught texting or using a cell phone while driving, will receive a $100 fine in addition to a 60-day license suspension. In addition, they will be required to take an “attitude” course before getting their license back. A second offense for young drivers would carry a 180-day suspension and a $250 fine. A third offense would generate a one-year suspension and a $500 fine.

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NGVAmerica recently applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposal to streamline the process for certifying natural gas vehicle aftermarket conversions as “one of the most important steps government can take to expand the use of non-petroleum fuels.” The organization has supported the existing requirements, but contended that they are unduly restrictive when it comes to aftermarket conversions.

“We commend EPA for recognizing that its regulations as currently written are not a good fit for aftermarket conversions,” said Jeff Clarke, general counsel and director of regulatory affairs for NGVAmerica, in an oral statement made during a hearing on the agency’s proposed rule changes. “It has been a long time in coming and is welcomed.

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A new study has found that nationwide adoption of a low-carbon fuel standard would increase the retail cost of motor fuel by as much as 170% over a 10-year period.

“Any way you slice the data, the future projected by this study is a frightening one — higher fuel prices, fewer jobs and lower consumer purchasing power,” said Michael Whatley, vice president of Consumer Energy Alliance, a coalition of fuel users and producers that sponsored the study.

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