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Air Board Continues CA's Leadership in Auto Emission Standards

6 November 1998

Air Board Continues California's World Leadership in Auto Emission Standards

    SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 6 -- California will continue to
have the world's cleanest cars into the next century as the state Air
Resources Board (ARB) on Thursday approved a far-ranging package of new
automobile emission standards.
    "The Board's action today shows that California remains serious about
continuing the clean-air gains we've been making since the 1970s," said ARB
Chairman John Dunlap. He noted that about 40 percent of the state's air
emissions come from the type of motor vehicles that would fall within the new
standards. "The growth of California's economy, population and vehicle fleet
means we must look to automakers to help us reach our goals for cleaner air,"
Dunlap said.
    Among other standards, the regulatory package requires most mini vans,
pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) up to 8500 pounds gross
vehicle weight to reduce emissions to passenger car levels by 2007. The
regulations, known as Low Emission Vehicle II (LEV II), will run from 2004
through 2010.
    Cars sold in California are already the world's cleanest under the current
LEV regulations, which run from 1994 through 2003. However, the existing LEV
regulations allow heavier mini vans, pickup trucks and SUVs to have emission
levels up to three times greater than passenger cars.
    Other components in the LEV II package include:

    * An extension and tightening of the fleet average standards requiring
automakers to reduce fleet emission levels each year through 2010. A "fleet"
includes all new vehicles an automaker sells each year in California.
    * Significantly lower oxides of nitrogen (the main contributor to smog)
standards for low and ultra-low emission vehicles; a reduction of 75 percent
from current LEV standards.
    * Increased emission control durability standards, from 100,000 miles to
120,000 miles, for all passenger cars and other vehicles up to 8500 pounds
gross vehicle weight.
    * Further reduction in evaporative emissions -- smog-contributing gases
which come from hoses, gas lines, and valves.
    * Creation of partial zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) credits for vehicles
that achieve near-zero emissions, such as hybrids, fuel cells and cars meeting
the new super ultra low emission vehicle (SULEV) standard.

    The board also removed from the LEV II package a less stringent emission
standard which would have made it easier for automakers to sell diesel cars,
pickups and SUVs. And the board committed to review the regulations every two
years to deal with any concerns.
    As the state's passenger car fleet continues to grow and more SUVs, pickup
trucks and mini vans are being used as passenger cars, the more stringent
emission standards of LEV II are necessary for California to meet
federally-mandated clean air goals outlined in the 1994 State Implementation
Plan (SIP).
    The SIP is the state's "road map" to attain federal clean air standards by
2010 and includes among its measures strategies to further reduce air
pollution from automobiles and other mobile sources. When LEV II is fully
implemented in 2010, it is estimated that smog-forming emissions in the
Los Angeles area will be reduced by 57 tons per day, while the statewide
reduction will be 155 tons per day.
    The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental
Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health,
welfare and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants
while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all
air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health
based air quality standards.