MotorVehicleRegs.COM

GHG Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy Duty Engines and Vehicles

EPA has published a document containing a record of the answers the agency has completed to date to the questions submitted by industry before, during and after the November 3, 2011 workshop. Regulated parties may use this document to aid in achieving compliance with the regulations for heavy-duty vehicles (40 CFR Part 86, 1037; and, 49 CFR Part 523,534 and 535) and heavy-duty engines (40 CFR Part 1036; and, 49 CFR Part 523, 534 and 535). For a copy, click here.

2017-2025 CAFE/GHG NPRM

On January 13, 2012, NHTSA and EPA published a notice in the Federal Register at 77 FR 2028 announcing that they are extending the comment period for the joint 2017-2025 CAFE/GHG NPRM to February 13, 2012. The extension does not apply to NHTSA’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement which is available online at www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy. The comment period for NHTSA’s Draft EIS closes on January 31, 2012. 

 

Fuel Economy Label Information for 2012 Model Year

On August 8, 2011, EPA issued a “Dear Manufacturer” letter (CISD-11-11) discussing the following:

• Information necessary to print fuel economy labels;
• Instructions for submitting information to EPA for the Fuel Economy Guide for alternative-fueled vehicles, CNG vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and sport utility vehicles;
• Instructions and guidance for manufacturers who voluntarily wish to use the new 2013 labeling requirements for 2012 vehicles;
• The timetable for inclusion of fuel economy label values in the 2012 model year Fuel Economy Guide.

For a copy of the letter, click Download CISD-11-11.

 

House Passes Legislation to Strip EPA and CARB of Their Ability to Regulate Motor Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions

On March 15, 2011, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 34 to 9  to approve H.R. 910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011.  While the bill is clear that EPA and CARB would be unable to issue motor vehicle GHG standards for the 2017 and later timeframe, it is also the opinion of the EPA that the legislation would also prevent them from enforcing 2012-2016 motor vehicle GHG standards that were passed in 2010.  Although the bill is expected to be approved by the full House, it is not expected to garner enough votes in the Senate to pass there.  

 

GHG Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles

On October 25, 2010, EPA and NHTSA released a joint proposal to establish a federal program to reduce GHG emissions and increase fuel efficiency for on-road heavy-duty vehicles.  The proposal covers essentially all heavy duty vehicles and the engines used in HD vehicles over 8,500 lbs GVWR (except MDPVs).  The requirements vary depending on vehicle category.  Three vehicle categories are defined: 1) tractor combinations, 2) vocational vehicles, and 3) heavy duty pickup trucks and vans.  EPA’s proposed GHG emission standards would begin with MY2014 while NHTSA’s proposed fuel consumption standards would be voluntary in MY2014-2015 and become mandatory in 2016, except for diesel engine standards which would be voluntary in MYs2014-2016 and become mandatory in MY2017.  Fuel economy improvements in the range of five to seventeen percent would be required and cost implications vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on vehicle type. 

Comments on the NPRM will be due 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register.

Two public hearings are scheduled to be held. One hearing will be held in Chicago on November 15 with the other taking place on November 18.

Docket reference: EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0162 & NHTSA-2010-0079

Agency contacts: EPA: Lauren Steele, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Div., Ann Arbor, MI (734) 214-4788, steele.lauren@epa.gov.  NHTSA: Rebecca Yoon, Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366-2992.

 

EPA Fuel Economy Labeling Hearing Locations Announced

Hearing locations for fuel economy labeling rulemaking are being announced in the Federal Register on Sep. 28th.  The rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on Sep. 23, 2010 proposes revised fuel economy labels for all vehicle types, including electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles.  Fuel economy test procedures for electric vehicles are also addressed in the rulemaking.  The hearings will be held in Chicago, IL on Oct. 14 and in Los Angeles on Oct. 21.  The hearing sessions will take place from noon to 4 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm.  For more information on the hearings, contact Lucie Audette at 734-214-4850 or audette.lucie@epa.gov.  For a copy of pre-publication version of the notice, click here.

Public Meeting to Discuss Implementation of EPA’s GHG Rulemaking

On Sep. 23, 2010, EPA will hold a meeting in Ann Arbor, MI to discuss implementation of the agency’s GHG rulemaking for the 2012-2016 model years.  EPA is encouraging all light-duty vehicle manufacturers to attend.  For more information on the meeting, click here for the meeting notice.

Proposed New Fuel Economy Label

EPA has released proposed revisions to the fuel economy label for the 2012 model year.  The updated label will provide new information to consumers about the fuel economy and consumption, fuel costs, and environmental impacts (tailpipe emissions) associated with the operation of new cars and light-duty trucks. The updated label will also be applicable to advanced technology vehicles, including electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, poised to enter the U.S. market.

For a copy of the proposal and related documents, go to http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/regulations.htm

Fuel Economy Label Information for 2011 Model Year

EPA has published a “Dear Manufacturer Letter” (CISD-10-14 (LDV/LDT/ICI/LIMO) which is intended to assist manufacturers with their 2011 model year fuel economy labeling programs.  The letter addresses the following topics:

 Enclosure 1: Fuel Economy Supplementary Information for 2011 Model Year

Enclosure 1 contains information manufacturers need to print fuel economy labels, including information about 2011 fuel costs, gas guzzler taxes, fuel economy ranges, etc.   If manufacturer labels are currently approved by EPA and printed, they may continue using the 2010 fuel costs on an interim basis until August 29, 2010.  Manufacturers are free to update their currently approved labels sooner if they prefer. All labels approved after issuance of this letter should use the new fuel costs.

Enclosure 2: Supplementary Instructions for Submitting Fuel Economy Information to EPA for the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide

Enclosure 2 provides manufacturers with instructions for submitting information to EPA for the Fuel Economy Guide for alternative-fueled vehicles, electric vehicles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles.

Enclosure 3: Timetable for 2011 MY Fuel Economy Guide

Enclosure 3 contains the timetable for inclusion of fuel economy label values in the 2011 model year Fuel Economy Guide.  

For a copy of the Dear Manufacturer Letter, click here.

SAE Publishes Long-awaited J1711 Recommended Practice for Measuring the Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Economy of Hybrid-Electric Vehicles, Including Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles

On June 8th, SAE published a revised version of SAE J1711, Recommended Practice for Measuring the Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Economy of Hybrid-Electric Vehicles, Including Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles.  This SAE Recommended Practice establishes uniform chassis dynamometer test procedures for hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) that are designed to be driven on public roads. The procedure provides instructions for measuring and calculating the exhaust emissions and fuel economy of HEV's driven on the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) and the Highway Fuel Economy Driving Schedule (HFEDS), as well as the exhaust emissions of HEVs driven on the US06 Driving Schedule (US06) and the SC03 Driving Schedule (SC03). To purchase the standard from SAE, click here.