The Engine Technology Forum (ETF) has submitted testimony to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on proposed amendments affecting model year 2027 and later heavy-duty engines and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems.

The organization said its testimony “emphasized the industry’s confidence in advanced diesel engines equipped SCR and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) technology”, and highlighted what it stated is their “proven ability” to achieve near-zero emissions while maintaining the performance, durability and fuel efficiency required for commercial trucking, construction and other essential industries.

“Advanced diesel technology is a remarkable environmental and engineering success story that continues to evolve and improve,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director at the ETF. “The facts are clear: today’s advanced diesel engines equipped with SCR systems and DEF are achieving near-zero emissions while delivering substantial fuel savings, outstanding performance and the reliability demanded by the industries that keep America moving.”

EPA’s decision to retain the stringent 2027 nitrogen oxide (NOx) standard means that next-generation heavy-duty truck engines will achieve more than an 80% reduction in NOx emissions compared with today’s technology.

“While SCR and DEF remain the gold standard for enabling diesel engines to meet EPA’s 2027 heavy-duty emissions standards, some truck and equipment operators have experienced legitimate operational challenges with previous generations of emissions control technology,” said Schaeffer.

To address these issues, truck, engine and equipment manufacturers are actively implementing EPA’s guidance, making adjustments to SCR and DEF systems on existing equipment where feasible and integrating the guidance into new products while evaluating EPA’s newly proposed approach.

EPA’s proposal presents a significant departure from its current approach to emissions compliance regarding engine derating and other provisions of the proposed rule. Addressing the end-user experience when emissions control system issues occur is an important consideration for both EPA and OEMs, the ETF said, adding that it defers to its member companies as the parties best positioned to address how these proposed changes could affect their customers.

ETF said that its comments highlighted that diesel engines remain the dominant power source for commercial transportation, accounting for 76% of all commercial vehicles in operation. And that, more importantly, the nation’s fleet continues to transition rapidly toward newer, cleaner technologies.

As of the end of 2025, approximately 67% of commercial diesel vehicles in operation were model year 2010 or newer and equipped with advanced emissions control systems. Nearly two-thirds of Class 8 trucks, 63% of diesel transit buses, and 72% of diesel school buses now operate with advanced diesel technology equipped with SCR emissions control systems.

Proven environmental and economic benefits 

The Engine Technology Forum cited research by Auto Forecast Solutions that estimates that between 2011 and 20230 advanced diesel engines could reduce fuel consumption by 130 billion gallons and avoid approximately 1.3 billion tons of CO₂ emissions, while also reducing NOx and particulate emissions. The organization said SCR and DEF emissions control technologies have been a major contributor to these reductions.

To support understanding of diesel emissions control systems, ETF has launched the SCR & DEF Policy and Technical Resource Center featuring webinars, fact sheets and technical information. According to the organization, the resource is intended to provide guidance on SCR and DEF technology, emissions compliance, DEF handling and storage, fuel efficiency and air quality benefits.

“ETF remains committed to providing factual, technology-focused information, supporting innovation and helping ensure that advanced diesel engines continue to deliver both environmental benefits and operational value,” said Schaeffer.

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ASAM’s 2026 Technical Seminar took place on March 18 in Munich, Germany, and offered insight into automotive standardization amid rapid technological change.

The agenda covered simulation, data management, diagnostics and test automation, with discussions underscoring interoperability, simulation credibility and data‑centric development. These themes emerged across sessions on ASAM standards OpenDrive, OpenScenario, OSI, ODS, SOVD, XIL, OTX, CMP, and digital‑twin integration through the Asset Administration Shell (AAS).

Cross-standard harmonization and the need to align toolchains across domains, suppliers and development stages remain priorities, with speakers citing inconsistent interpretations of ASAM specifications as a cause of fragmentation. Updates included co‑simulation workflows, higher‑fidelity OpenX modeling, interoperable data management, modular measurement architectures, digital‑twin concepts, ODD taxonomies and simulation‑quality assessment.

Regional updates and roadmap

Updates from ASAM’s ambassadors in China, Korea, Japan and the USA were shared by CATARC technical director Bolin Zhou, IVH CEO Daeoh Kang and ASAM Japan representative Yoshiaki Shoi. Priorities included co-simulation and merging standards in China; sensor simulation and ASAM SOVD in Japan; and study groups in South Korea supporting global application of standards, such as ASAM OpenDrive.

BMW IT specialist Michael Schwarzbach outlined the 2026 Technical Steering Committee roadmap, highlighting ODD-based testing, collaboration improvements, harmonized standards and a common ontology.

OpenX updates

ASAM technology managers Ahmed Sadek and Yash Shah (below) presented ASAM OpenX updates. Previous OpenX models defined traffic participants independently, creating toolchain inconsistencies. New concepts for ASAM’s simulation standards include combining ASAM OpenDrive with the Quantifying Simulation Quality (QSQ) initiative, and ASAM OSI adding high-fidelity sensor simulation support, such as spectral irradiance and radar waveforms. “No standard is developed in a silo,” Shah said. “We think feature-based, then collect standards experts for harmonization.”

Simulation integration

Clemens Linnhoff, founder and CTO at Persival, demonstrated co-simulation between Scenario Player and Sensor Model, with all assets linked in ASAM OpenScenario as a single source of truth.

ASAM ODS, MDF, CMP and digital twins

Technica Engineering technical fellow and head of media relations Lars Völker outlined Capture Module Protocol (ASAM CMP) improvements. “Before 2022, in‑vehicle DAQ was vendor‑specific and non‑modular. CMP 1.0 introduced modular DAQ and support for heterogeneous technologies. New use cases support raw Ethernet and define message transport across the vehicle system. Scaling HIL and test setups enables an elastic measurement infrastructure.”

Using slides from the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA), Stefan Romainczyk, senior product manager at Peak Solution, said, “Today’s digital twins are proprietary and one lifecycle element, whereas future twins have a complete lifecycle with efficient scaling. With ASAM ODS, AAS can create a comprehensive data profile for digital twins – standardized interoperability improves predictive maintenance, time and cost.”

SDV diagnostics updates

Following the launch of ASAM SOVD 1.2 in February with 29 global OEMs and suppliers, Vector Informatik manager Tobias Weidmann presented at the seminar the latest activities in the development of the standard. ISO 17978-4 Remote Access covers how to access vehicle information via authorization and defining the access path; possibilities include functional communication, new access methods to log information via a streaming interface, and large file handling via third-party service providers.

ODD taxonomy and AV deployment

Andreas Richter (below), engineering program manager – Operational Design Domains, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, outlined ASAM OpenODD implementation within MOIA America, VW’s autonomous‑mobility affiliate, formerly known as ADMT. VW Commercial Vehicles is the first group brand to introduce SAE Level 4 autonomous driving using the ID Buzz platform with integrated third‑party automated‑driving systems. Testing is underway in Hamburg and Munich in Germany, Oslo in Norway, and in Austin, Texas.

Richter noted that the industry is not always clear on ‘ODD’, ‘taxonomy’, ‘service area’ and ‘scenarios’. “To bring autonomous driving to life, we have to agree on the same terms,” he said, calling for ODD definitions that are unambiguously readable by humans and machines, supported by geodata analysis and enterprise‑ready tools for ODD and scenario management.

“ASAM OpenODD offers a taxonomy-agnostic, modular model to represent ODDs in different technical formats, [and] support development, storage and processing in a machine and human-readable way,” he explained. “Originally intended for scenario-based testing, ODD definition is now required in more process steps for developing, testing, approving and operating ADS. The ODD as a single point of knowledge ensures OEMs and authorities share definitions.”

VW’s internal elaborated ODD taxonomy demonstrates how modular definitions support understanding across organizations and regulators. The ODD management toolchain validates taxonomies and module definitions, supports multilingual concepts and connects to scenario‑creation and requirements‑management workflows. Using STIEF (scenario-accompanied, text-base, iterative evaluation of automated driving functions), engineers can preload scenario definitions via natural‑language inputs, while geodata analysis identifies new operational areas and generates challenging test routes.

Simulation credibility

In an ASAM QSQ update, Automotive Artificial Intelligence’s general manager Basit Khan highlighted the challenge of trusting simulation for virtual homologation.

“No standardized quality metrics exist for simulation frameworks, especially ADAS/AD sensors,” he said. “Many contributors – OEMs, suppliers, research and tool vendors – have different priorities and vocabulary. Through working groups spanning use cases, camera, lidar, radar and vehicle dynamics, our goal is to drive cross-sector innovation by building a unified standard upon proven, existing components. By harmonizing established concepts, we can create a practical framework that ensures simulation reliability without reinventing the wheel.”

Research and collaborations

Fraunhofer IOSB’s research group leader Jens Ziehn reported on how ASAM helps scale R&D results, for example where ASAM’s OpenDrive, OpenLabel and OpenScenario are used to deliver interoperability and reusable data across diverse acquisition sources in the AVEAS Brave10K project to scale automated driving in public transportation.

SAE’s Ed Straub outlined ASAM’s collaboration with SAE J3259 (ODD taxonomy), while ASCS’s Alexander Walsh emphasized the complementary role of ASCS and ASAM in simulation, AI and HPC.

Industry collaboration continues at Vehicle Tech Week Europe

Vehicle Tech Week Europe, represented by ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle International, Automotive Testing Technology International and Automotive Interiors World, served as ASAM’s media partner.

Launching this June in Stuttgart, Germany, the three-day ‘festival of engineering’ will unite the full vehicle‑technology ecosystem – from EV and battery testing to autonomous‑vehicle development, UX/HMI, materials engineering and in‑cabin innovation – creating cross‑disciplinary value at a time when the industry faces intense technological and regulatory pressure.

ASAM is an association partner of Vehicle Tech Week Europe, and Yash Shah and Andreas Richter will continue their discussions about ASAM OpenX evolution and ODDs at the event.

Learn about Vehicle Tech Week’s partnerships here.

Find out more about ASAM’s International Conference, which will take place on November 4 and 5, 2026.

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BYD has partnered with Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK), an industry-to-consumer organization that aims to accelerate the UK’s move toward a fully electric future.

Founded in 2024, EVUK’s mission is to make electric mobility more trustworthy, accessible and easy for car buyers to understand. It does this by challenging misinformation and campaigning to lower the barriers that prevent drivers from making the switch.

BYD’s partnership with EVUK will support consumer, policymaker and media engagement on the benefits of battery electric vehicles. The collaboration gives BYD access to consumer events and will enable both organizations to coordinate public, industry and press activities more effectively.

Bono Ge, country manager of BYD UK, said, “We’re delighted to be joining EVUK to fully support its mission to increase consumer awareness of electric vehicles. Together we aim to explain the various benefits of owning an electric car – from a smoother, quieter drive to responsive performance and reduced running costs – by providing accurate information to the public. In doing this, we’ll move closer to our ultimate goals of achieving global climate targets and improving air quality.”

Tanya Sinclair, CEO of EVUK, added, “I am delighted to welcome BYD as a partner of EVUK. They are innovators in EV technology and are among the global manufacturers moving away from fossil-fueled vehicles and accelerating the UK’s transition to an all-electric future. BYD’s partnership with EVUK strengthens our ability to provide clear information and insight that helps build confidence and demand for all electric vehicles in the UK.”

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Alexander Battery Technologies (ABT), a global battery pack manufacturer headquartered in Peterlee in the UK has achieved ISO 45001 certification. The globally recognized standard reinforces ABT’s commitment to health and safety while delivering high-quality solutions to customers.

This certification comes as ABT builds on 40 years of manufacturing experience across the UK and abroad. The company has more than 15 million battery products delivered globally, with production ramping up to nearly 300% during the Covid-19 pandemic. The manufacturer embeds safety and efficiency into its operations, and works as a partner for industries such as medical devices, robotics, eVTOL and industrial power tools.

ABT is on track to reach £20m+ (US$25m+) in revenue by 2026 and is targeting £30m (US$38m) in 2028, driven by ongoing investments, an expanding team and long-term projects that provide sustained revenue.

Mark Rutherford, chief executive officer at Alexander Battery Technologies, said, “This certification is a key milestone for our business. It not only demonstrates our commitment to a safe, supportive workplace for our team but also positions us to meet the growing demands of our customers. Safety and quality are at the heart of what we do, and this investment strengthens our capability to scale and innovate in line with future opportunities.”

ABT’s recent investments in safety and training demonstrate its practical approach to improvement, including an intensive IEC 61508 Functional Safety course that equipped engineers with advanced knowledge to embed safety principles across products and processes. These align directly with ISO 45001’s framework and supports the manufacturer’s ability to operate confidently in high-stakes markets.

Rutherford added, “We’re focused on expanding our workforce, [and] pursuing additional international standards such as ISO 14001 and ISO 27001 by 2025 as we continue to enhance our reputation as a partner of choice for global OEMs. Achieving ISO 45001 reinforces our position as a forward-thinking manufacturer and sets a strong example for other businesses both nationally and internationally.”

The Biden-Harris Administration has unveiled its National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy, put together by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, in collaboration with the US Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The strategic framework outlines plans for deploying zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (ZE-MHDV) charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure across the USA from 2024 to 2040.

With a focus on meeting increasing market demands, the strategy aims to leverage public investment to bolster private-sector efforts, streamline utility and regulatory energy planning, coordinate industry activities and enhance air quality in communities heavily affected by diesel emissions.

To achieve US targets of at least 30% ZE-MHDV sales by 2030 and 100% sales by 2040, the strategy emphasizes the importance of widespread and accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure along freight corridors, intermodal freight facilities and high-traffic ports.

“This is a big move to deliver environmental justice – 75% of heavy truck traffic travels on just 4% of our nation’s roads, jeopardizing the health of our most vulnerable communities,” said President Biden’s national climate advisor Ali Zaidi.

The strategy’s objective is to align public policy and investments by prioritizing, sequencing and expediting infrastructure development along the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) in four phases:

1. Establishing priority hubs based on freight volumes (2024-2027)
2. Connecting hubs along critical freight corridors (2027-2030)
3. Expanding corridor connections to initiate network development (2030-2035)
4. Achieving a national network by linking regional corridors for widespread access (2035-2040)

In line with this strategy, the Federal Highway Administration is designating National EV Freight Corridors along the National Highway Freight Network and other vital roadways, furthering efforts to decarbonize freight transportation.

“For over a century, petroleum-fueled freight has transported vital food and resources to American families but at the same time, these vehicles have also contributed to lower public health, especially in densely populated communities,” said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M Granholm.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is addressing this issue head-on with innovative strategies to transform freight so it not only supports American families and businesses but also protects the environment for future generations.”

Senator Alex Padilla, added, “This landmark strategy brings us one step closer to achieving a zero-emission transportation sector that provides clean air for communities, creates market certainty for industries investing in clean technology and strengthens our supply chains.”

For more legislation news, please click here.

Global climate conference COP28 is taking place in the United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12, 2023, with governments from around the world developing policies to tackle climate change.

This year, Tevva participated in one of the first speaker briefings, ‘Accelerating the Transition Through Road Transport’, discussing how collaboration can accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles.

Stuart Cottrell, head of energy services and government partnerships at Tevva, said, “Tevva has had its challenges this year– similar to many startups in the EV space who are facing several obstacles to mass production. Volta Trucks filed for bankruptcy due to supply chain issues, although there is hope for them on the horizon.”

Tevva produces battery-electric trucks at its London facility. However, the company needs help to scale up toward greater adoption of zero-emission vehicles, Cottrell says.

“Simply put, we believe that further government action is required to ensure that the UK achieves its net-zero goals in the best and fastest possible way for the good of the environment, economy and British people.”

Recently, the European Parliament voted to adopt new CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles (45% by 2030, 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2040). In the UK, there are more ambitious goals of 100% zero-emission by 2035 for commercial vehicles below 26 metric tons (where Tevva is currently operating), and 2040 for 26 metric tons and over.

Financial incentives on offer for battery-electric truck adoption in the UK are “paltry”, Tevva says, compared to those found in Europe.

“As a vehicle manufacturer, Tevva can offer customers a maximum discount of £16,000 (US$20,000) for one of our 7.5 metric ton battery electric trucks. Yet, in Germany, for example, the government provides 80% of the price differential between diesel and battery-electric trucks; in the Netherlands, it’s 45%. That’s potentially between £50,000-£90,000 (US$62,870-US$113,167) per truck more than the UK offers.”

Cotrell said that a second area where the UK could be better equipped to reach its net-zero goals is the availability of charging infrastructure: “At the Motor Transport Decarbonisation Summit in the UK, infrastructure was highlighted as the industry’s number one concern. To say a lot rests on the success of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstration program and other schemes is putting it mildly.”

Tevva states that it is imperative that actions and policies are put in place to facilitate the UK’s journey to net zero.

To help heavy-duty Class 8 commercial truck OEMs and operators comply with ever-tightening emissions regulations in the state of California, Toyota has revealed that it has been granted a Zero Emission Powertrain (ZEP) Executive Order from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its new heavy-duty fuel cell electric powertrain. The hydrogen-fueled powertrain kit consists of hydrogen fuel storage tanks, fuel cell stacks, batteries, electric motors and a transmission.

The ZEP Executive Order from CARB certifies that a powertrain complies with its regulations for zero-emission powertrains that meet specific emissions standards required for sale in California. OEMs and operators using Toyota’s powertrain may also be eligible for additional incentives, including CARB’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, the Clean Truck Fund from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and other federal incentives.

Toyota’s CARB ZEP-certified powertrain kit is expected to enter production for customers later this year at the OEM’s manufacturing site in Kentucky.

The latest generation of powertrain benefits from improved energy efficiency and package size, and has been subjected to extensive real-world testing and development by the company’s fuel cell development engineering team.

“Toyota aims to reduce or eliminate emissions for all mobility solutions, and our fuel cell electric powertrains have proven that hydrogen can play a significant role in the emissions reduction of emissions from heavy-duty transportation,” said Scott Friedman, senior program manager advanced mobility, Toyota Motor North America.

“Receiving the Zero-Emission Powertrain Executive Order from CARB is a key achievement for our teams who have dedicated an incredible amount of time and effort, and we are excited to offer this powertrain commercially in the near future.”

“We believe hydrogen will play a significant role in the emissions reduction of heavy-duty transport while not sacrificing the distance, power or fueling times needed to keep these fleet and individual operators running,” said Chris Rovik, executive program manager, advanced mobility, Toyota Motor North America.

“Fuel cell technology is scalable, and we believe it will take an increasingly visible and important role in our collective fight to reduce and eliminate carbon as we move towards a hydrogen society.”

With the EU’s plans for a ban on all ICE passenger vehicles from 2035 thrown into doubt by recent opposition from Germany, among other member states, the German Federal Government has now reached an agreement with the EU Commission on the inclusion of carbon-neutral e-fuels post-2035.

According to the German Minister for Transport, Volker Wissing, a member of the pro-business Free Democratic Party, “In very detailed and constructive negotiations, we managed to ensure the element of technology neutrality within the framework of the regulation of fleet limits. This paves the way for vehicles with combustion engines that only use CO₂-neutral fuels to be newly registered after 2035.

“Concrete procedural steps and a concrete schedule were fixed in a binding manner. In a first step, an e-fuels-only vehicle category is to be created and then integrated into the fleet limit regulation. We want the process to be completed by autumn 2024.”

What this means in practice is that the EU legislation banning engines that burn fossil fuels should now be passed into law, but with a separate category covering the use of ICEs running on carbon-neutral e-fuels. The practical implications of ensuring ICE vehicles registered after 2035 will only be able to run on e-fuels will no doubt be the source of much discussion and head-scratching.

Ralf Diemer, managing director of the eFuel Alliance, a group representing over 170 companies involved in the e-fuel supply chain, welcomed the compromise. “By consistently and persistently sticking to technology openness, the FDP has opened a door that should make climate-friendly e-fuels for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles possible in the long term,” he said. “Above all, this helps climate action and we are pleased about that. The fact that Italy, Poland and other member states have supported the Federal Government in Brussels also shows that unilateral technology bans are viewed critically not only in Germany but also in other parts.”

The original EU legislation would have banned any manufacturer of over 1,000 vehicles per year (to be sold in the European market) from selling ICE vehicles, ruling out not only the large players but also the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. However, the acceptance in principle of e-fuels paves the way for companies such as these to retain ICE offerings. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna noted that the compromise was good news for his company, opening the door for continued ICE sales on top of its planned future electric vehicles.