The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General announced earlier this month that it will investigate concerns regarding its use of research from Tennessee Tech University, following news last year of a study claiming that glider kits do not produce greater greenhouse gas emissions or particulate matter when compared to new prime movers.
Officials from the University said that the study was flawed and the EPA should ignore its conclusions in light of rolling back emissions regulations that limit glider kit manufacturing.
In September 2011, EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set new Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency (GHG) standards for medium and heavy duty vehicles for model years 2014 to 2018. These ‘Phase 1’ standards did not include trailers, while the updated ‘Phase 2’ standards cover model years 2021-2027 and were set to be ratified this year.
To learn more about GHG Phase 2, read more here.