Vehicles in the upper portion of the Class 2 weight range [6,000 to 10,000 lb gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)] were identified and examined, and their impact was assessed. Class 2b vehicles (GVWR of 8,500 to 10,000 lb) include pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and large vans. Oak Ridge National Laboratory researched each individual truck model to determine which models were Class 2b trucks and developed four methodologies to derive sales volumes. Two methods were recommended for producing believable and reliable results. The results of the study indicate that in calendar year 1999, 521,000 Class 2b vehicles (6.4% of sales of all trucks under 10,000 lb) were sold; 82% of Class 2b vehicles sold were pickups, and one-third of Class 2b vehicles sold had diesel engines. In 2000, 5.8 million Class 2b vehicles (7.8% of all trucks under 10,000 lb) were on the road; 24% of the Class 2b vehicle population had diesel engines, and Class 2b vehicles accounted for 8% of annual miles traveled by trucks under 10,000 lb and 9% of fuel use. Data on Class 2b vehicles are scarce. As the Tier 2 standards (which apply to passenger vehicles in the 8,500 to 10,000 lb GVWR category) become effective, additional data--not only about emissions, but also about all areas--on Class 2b vehicles may become available. At the moment, distinguishing Class 2b vehicles from all Class 2 vehicles is a substantial task that requires individual model data.
Abstract