Conversion Vehicle Emissions Certification

On October 20, 2009, Senator Wicker (for himself and Sen. Inhofe) introduced the “Streamline Vehicle Conversions Act” (S.1809).  Among other things, S.1809 would:

·       -  exempt aftermarket conversion vehicle test groups from having to be recertified year after year;

·       -  permit aftermarket conversion system manufacturers to carry over and carry across emissions and OBD certification data;

·       -  permit aftermarket conversion system manufacturers to use EPA assigned deterioration factors without regard to sales limits imposed on small volume manufacturers;

·        - allow EPA to waive emission requirements pertaining to the fuel on which the vehicle was originally certified to run;

·        -  require EPA to issue less stringent OBD requirements for aftermarket conversion systems that take into account the inability of an aftermarket conversion system manufacturer’s ability to access proprietary OBD technology of the OEM; and

·       -  allow vehicles that are already beyond their regulated useful life to be exempt from the Clean Air Act’s tampering provision.

The bill was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.