Diesel buses in California are being forced to improve their environmental standards under new rules implemented by the state's clean air officials.

The rules were passed by the Californian Air Resources Board and will require all transit agencies to gradually fit their fleets with new pollution filters.

Fleets of old buses that emit high levels of pollution will need to be replaced or adapted under the new regulations to ensure that they are all delivering lower levels of emissions.

Meanwhile, the Board also passed controversial rules that will force truckers to turn off their engines when sleeping in their cabs, so as to significantly reduce emissions.

While some have complained that this could leave many truckers to sleep in cold conditions, advocates of the scheme argue that clean fuel methods can be introduced to provide heat to the cab without having the engine running.

Such clean fuel technologies can be used in the cab, according to the advocates, meaning that the engine can be switched off.

But opponents of the scheme argue that more viable clean energy solutions need to be found before such a law should be enforced.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd