This document summarizes the results of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Highway Diesel rule that required highway diesel fuel to reduce its sulphur content from 500 parts per million (ppm) to 15ppm.

EPA’s Clean Air Highway Diesel final rule requires a 97 percent reduction in the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel, from its current level of 500 parts per million, to 15 ppm. As of October 15, 2006, ULSD is available at retail stations. Cars, trucks and buses with advanced pollution control will be available beginning in the autumn of 2006.

By addressing diesel fuel and engines together as a single system, this program will provide annual emission reductions equivalent to removing the pollution from more than 90 percent of today’s trucks and buses, or about 13 million trucks and buses, when the current heavy-duty vehicle fleet has been completely replaced in 2030. This is the greatest reduction in harmful emissions of soot, or particulate matter, ever achieved from cars and trucks.

Download the report here: Introduction of cleaner-burning diesel fuel enables advanced pollution control for cars, trucks and buses