After protests by California auto dealers, the head of California's Air Resources Board (CARB) said she is willing to discuss modifying one aspect of the state's stringent emission regulations. Mary Nichols, CARB Chairwoman, told reporters at an SAE Government/Industry meeting that she is open to "regional" standards for tailpipe emissions, rather than the current standards that create state-by-state standards.

As it stands now, automakers need to cut tailpipe emissions 30 percent by 2016, per regulations established by California in 2002. With 13 states adopting those same requirements and more in the process, a patchwork of regulations is emerging nationwide. Automakers, and auto dealers, have argued that such a trend could force some brands to stop selling vehicles altogether in places like California, because it's too cost prohibitive to build different versions of the same car to meet a multitude of standards. Some also speculate that consumers would just go buy larger vehicles in neighboring states with less stringent regulations. A regional approach to emission regulations might protect auto dealers from watching their business walking out of the state, but we're certain that the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers that represents most major carmakers in the U.S. will continue arguing for California's standards to be disregarded in favor of the more stringent national standards set forth in our nation's new energy bill.

[Source: Detroit News]

CARB offering compromise on emissions regulations? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 May 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The new CAFE legislation contains a provision to keep individual states from coming up with their own standards. California applied to the EPA for a waiver to enforce its own stricter emissions standards. When the EPA administrator, Stephen Johnson, planned to deny that waiver, Johnson's in-house team told him he could expect states to sue the EPA. He did it anyway. And now sixteen states and five environmental groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency.

The legal charge is being led by California, which has never been denied a waver before, and can't understand why it's being denied now (cue: conspiracy theories). Johnson said the EPA's own rules will do more to prevent global warming than the stricter standards California wants to adopt. Jerry Brown, California's Attorney General, called the EPA's action "shocking in its incoherence and utter failure to provide legal justification for the administrator's unprecedented action."

The Golden State is being joined by Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington in the lawsuit. The auto industry, which spent a lot of time, money and manpower to keep states from being able to choose individual standards, will be watching this closely. If California wins, though, it doesn't appear the industry will have any recourse but to lift its game that much further... and charge consumers for it.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Sixteen states tell the EPA: We'll see you in court originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Depending on your viewpoint, California is trying to make the world better for people everywhere, or trying to kill all the joy of automobiles and perhaps the entire domestic auto industry. In 2004, California adopted a requirement declaring that automakers reduce their fleets' CO2 emissions from September 2008, which would begin the 2009 model year. The first year's cut would be 1-2%, culminating in 2016 with a 24-36% reduction from the amount of 2002 CO2 levels. Eleven states have followed California's lead, but in order for the requirement to go into effect, California has to be granted a waiver for federal permission from the EPA.

The state of Vermont, which adopted California's stance, was sued last month by GM and a collection of auto industry partners. A verdict is still awaited. In that trial, it was said that in order to achieve that CO2 reduction, average mpg would need to be 43.1 in 2016. The cost to automakers would be billions upon billions. Chrysler has said it could only sell Smarts in states with the measure. GM said it could stop selling cars entirely in those states. There's howling on all sides, and it appears every side will not rest until it gains complete victory. Senators, meanwhile, are busy trying to protect their constituents and assuage voters with their own alternatives.

In 40 years, the EPA has never declined a waiver. If it approves California's request, six or so additional states are expected to adopt the same measures.

[Source: Detroit News]

They want more: CA petitions to raise automaker fleet standard to 40 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 May 2007 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ford responds to flaming Super Duty video originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading VIDEO: Ford Super Duty diesel throwing flames

VIDEO: Ford Super Duty diesel throwing flames originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a variety of rules that it might apply to urea injection for diesel engines, and is said to ready to issue rules for such emission-control devices in upcoming weeks. The regulations are expected to address potential issues arising with urea injection, such as the availability of the substance, making sure that the system and its low-fluid-level warning system are tamperproof, and dealing with urea's freezing point of 11F. One of the largest areas of contention between the EPA and automakers involves a proposed interlock between the urea level-monitoring system and the engine that would perhaps disable the starter or lock the vehicle's fuel cap if urea levels drop too low to ensure proper function.

Starting in 2010, all diesel vehicles sold in the US must meet or exceed "Bin 5" classification of the Tier II clean air standards, which would effectively make oilburners as clean as gasoline engines. Urea injection helps reduce the level of oxides of nitrogen when injected into the tailpipe, and does so at a cost perhaps 10% lower than the competing NOx trap technology. Bosch sees the combination of urea and selective catalyst reduction as the path toward diesel cleanliness, and GM has shown off the technology on a diesel light-truck prototype. VW's emission certification problems with the diesel Touareg last year elevated the profile of urea injection - and the problems surrounding it - here in the United States, and prompted the EPA to start moving.

[Source: Autoweek/Automotive News]

EPA mulls over urea-injection rules originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.