The auto industry has realized that the mood of the government is directed to making trucks meet the same average standards for nitrogen oxides as smaller engine cars. One of the keys, however, for reaching those targets is to have clean sulfur-free fuels. EPA's proposal as announced by President Clinton is similar to a plan the manufacturer's formulated. They ask for some flexibility in the EPA timing to allow for the invention of the technologies required to meet the standards. A key to the new technologies is clean sulfur-free fuel from the oil companies to enable the new emissions control systems to work effectively.
Experience shows that lower sulfur fuels in California have had positive results.
In the last 25 years, the auto industry has assumed the burden of improving the quality of our air while the well-organized oil industry lobby has resisted any regulations that drastically impact them. In an unprecedented move they have allied with environmental groups to overcome the political pressure and fuel price scare tactics the oil companies have used to keep U.S. fuels from even reaching the purity of European and Asian fuels.