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California ZEV Regulation

 On January 19, 2009, CARB released papers written by four external experts who were invited to provide independent scientific advice on the documents released by CARB staff on November 25, 2009 which summarized the ARB’s assessment of the need to revise the ZEV program regulation.  Links to the expert opinion papers are below. 

·             Dr. Menahem Anderman, Advanced Automotive Batteries
·             Dr. David Green, Oakridge National Laboratory
·             Dr. Joan Ogde, University of California, Davis
·             Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni,  Ohio State University
 
To access the staff documents published last November, click here.

Public Meeting to Provide an Informational Update on the Zero Emission Vehicle Regulation Revisions

On December 10th, CARB staff will update the Board on the development of Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) technologies, the role these technologies may play in achieving the State’s 2050 greenhouse gas emission goal, how the ZEV regulation could be modified to help achieve this goal, and what other policies may be beneficial or necessary to assure adequate and timely fueling infrastructure and to incentivize consumers to buy ZEVs.  This is an informational item and no regulatory action will be taken at this time.  A regulatory update of the ZEV program is planned in late 2010.
 
In conjunction with this upcoming Board meeting, CARB staff released the following documents on November 25th:
 

• White Paper:  Summary of Staff’s Preliminary Assessment of the Need for Revisions to the Zero Emission Vehicle Regulation

• Attachment A:  Status of ZEV Technology Commercialization (Technical Support Document)

• Attachment B:  2050 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis:  Staff Modeling in Support of the Zero Emission Vehicle Regulation

• Attachment C:  Complementary Policies

To download copies of the above documents, click here.

Regarding the assessment of the need for revisions to the Zero Emission Vehicle regulation, Staff recommends the following:
 
1.    The focus of the ZEV regulation should be shifted to address GHG emission reductions as well as criteria pollutants emission reductions.
 
2.    An important new goal for the ZEV program should be to help assure the transformation to very low carbon-emitting vehicles occurs in the timeframe necessary to meet the Governor’s 2050 target of an 80% reduction in GHGs compared to 1990 levels.
 
3.    The upcoming revision to the ZEV regulation should help assure the successful launch of commercial ZEVs in the next decade, which appears needed to meet the 2050 GHG target.
 
4.    PZEVs, now a part of the ZEV regulation, are commercial, and can be removed from the ZEV regulation (effective in 2014). Their emission benefits are appropriately considered in next summer’s revision to the LEV criteria emission standards.
 
5.     AT-PZEVs, now a part of the ZEV regulation, are commercial, and can be removed from the ZEV regulation (effective in 2017). Their emission benefits are appropriately considered in next summer’s revision to the LEV GHG emission standards.
 
6.    The proposed structure and stringency of the revised ZEV program will depend in part on the Board’s decision on establishing more stringent GHG standards for the overall fleet, next summer, and how well it places on the path to meeting an 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050.
 
7.    The staff intends to further evaluate incentive and regulatory policies that can assure adequate fueling infrastructure is available for to support the commercialization of ZEVs.
 
8.        The staff will also evaluate the adequacy of incentives to encourage purchase of ZEVs, and will recommend to the Board what complementary policies best support implementation of the ZEV program.

SAE 2010 Government/Industry Meeting

SAE’s 2010 Government/Industry meeting will be held January 27-29 in Washington, DC.  Sessions will include:

- Crash Avoidance Technologies for Heavy Trucks

- Enforcement: CARS and CAFÉ

- Adding Up the Carbon of Renewable Fuels

- Second Generation Biofuels

- Front and Side Impact Crashworthiness

- Vehicle Rollover and Occupant Containment

- New Innovations in Advanced Safety Technology

- Crash Avoidance and Crash Causation

- Electricity -- The Fuel of the Future....Today?

- Return of the Plug-in Electric Vehicle -- Will the Sequel Succeed?

- Marketing Safety

- Safety Data

- Heavy-Duty Technologies & Solutions to Improve Efficiency and Emissions

- What's Next for Heavy-Duty Engine Regulations?

- Child Safety

- Pedestrian Safety

- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Safety

- Light-Duty Powertrain Strategies -- Are IC Engines Taking a Back Seat?

- Biomechanics

- Who Pays for the High-Fuel Economy Vehicles of the Future?

- Distraction

For information on the upcoming meeting, go to http://www.sae.org/events/gim/.

CARB Plug-in Hybrid EV Test Procedure Amendments and Aftermarket Parts Certification Requirements

CARB issued a 15 day request for comment on November 2, 2009 to take comment on proposed modifications to the Plug-in Hybrid EV test procedure test procedure that would address previously-made amendments that inadvertently modified the ZEV regulation’s credit scheme in a manner that was not intended by CARB staff.  CARB is also proposing changes to address the optional butane canister loading method when conducting only exhaust emission testing for HEVs and making some clarifying changes to the Evaporative and Refueling Test Procedures.  

Comments on the changes are due November 17, 2009.

Workshop on 2050 Automotive Sector GHG Emissions and the Role of ZEVs

CARB will hold a workshop on Oct. 28, 2009 to discuss an automotive sector GHG emissions modeling effort being undertaken to inform the process of redesigning the ZEV regulation.  An information item on the ZEV Program including a policy review, technology assessment, and 2050 GHG assessment will be presented at the December 2009 Board Meeting.  The meeting will start at 1:30 and end at 5 pm.  For more information, see Mail-Out #MSC 09-33.

OBD

On October 20, 2009 CARB published a 15 day notice proposing modifications to the rule adopted by the Board last May 28th. Amendments are proposed for light duty and medium duty vehicle OBD II regulations as well as the HD OBD systems. Comments are due November 13, 2009. For a copy of the proposed modified regulatory text, click here.

CARB Plug-in Hybrid Test Procedures

On August 28, 2009, CARB published its 15 day notice requesting comments on proposed modifications to the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) test procedures and aftermarket parts certification requirements. Comments on the proposed modification are due 5 pm PST on Sep. 14, 2009. For more information, go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2008/phev09/phev09.htm.

ZEV Symposium

CARB will hold a two day ZEV Symposium in Sacramento on September 21 and 22. The following sessions are included in the program:

Session 1: ZEV Technology Symposium Introduction

Session 2: Automotive Fuel Cell Vehicle Technologies

Session 3: 2050 GHG Scenarios

Session 4: ZEV Marketability

Session 5: Battery Electric Vehicle and Plug-in Electric Vehicle Batteries

Session 6: Plug-in Electric Vehicles and EVs

For more information, go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/2009symposium/2009symposium.htm.

CARB GHG Emissions Standards

On August 6, 2009, CARB posted a public hearing notice concerning a public hearing that is planned for the purpose of considering amendments to the California greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards. The proposed amendments would provide affected manufacturers with the ability to demonstrate compliance based on their fleet average of vehicles produced and delivered for sale in California and all other U.S. States that have adopted and can enforce California’s GHG emissions standards pursuant to section 177 of the Clean Air Act. The hearing will be held September 24, 2009 starting at 9 am in Diamond Bar, CA. Comments on the proposed amendments are due by noon, Sep. 23, 2009.

Cool Cars Standard

CARB will hold a workshop on September 16, 2009, in El Monte California to inform interested parties about the “Cool Cars” regulatory requirements, solicit input from affected parties as to the most effective way to craft the performance-based option and associated procedures, and discuss related issues. Additional background materials and a workshop agenda will be available at the workshop and on ARB’s cool cars website at http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cool-cars/cool-cars.htm at least one day prior to the workshop.