EPA & CARB Explained
In light of the release of the recent changes set forth by the California Air Resources Board, we’ve decided to explain the basics of the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board.
Sources of Pollution
Air pollution comes from many types of engines, industries, and commercial operations, all of which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Pollution sources that transport passengers or freight, including trucks, locomotives, aircraft, boats, and many more, are all considered mobile pollution sources, also known as “on-road”. “Non-road” or “off-road” sources of pollution include vehicles, engines, and equipment used for construction, agriculture, recreation, and a plethora of other purposes. These broad categories can be broken down more into size, weight, use, and horsepower variations of engines, vehicles, and equipment.
EPA Regulations
The EPA sets regulatory standards for mobile sources of specific pollutants being admitted and has progressively become more stringent for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter. These standards set limits for the number of pollutants that a vehicle or engine can emit. The EPA realizes that in order to reduce pollution, we must monitor vehicles, engines, equipment, and the fuel used to run all of these machines.
Manufacturers’ Responsibilities
Once emission standards are set, it is up to manufacturers to produce products that meet those standards within the timeframe of the implementation schedule.
The Clean Air Act requires that every engine and vehicle within the chain of commerce in the United States meet a set of emission standards. If an OEM would like to sell an engine or vehicle within the U.S., they must demonstrate compliance with the Clean Air Act and all applicable EPA regulations. Once the product meets these standards, the EPA issues a Certificate of Conformity, providing authorization for production and sale within the United States.
Cleaner Truck Initiative
The Cleaner Truck Initiative is an initiative enacted by the EPA in an effort to further and more aggressively curb NOx emissions for heavy-duty trucks. The goal of the CTI is to ensure emission reductions occur in all types of truck operations, including low-load conditions.
Learn more about that Cleaner Truck Initiative and the EPA here.
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board is a separate entity that may also adopt and enforce its own emissions standards within the state of California. CARB is charged with protecting the public from harmful air pollutants by developing programs and actions to fight climate change while working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and the California government. If a vehicle or piece of machinery is to reside in California, it must comply with regulations set by CARB.
Advanced Clean Trucks
The goal of CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks is to achieve overall reductions of NOx and greenhouse gas emissions through advanced clean technologies and to encourage the first wave of zero-emission heavy-duty technology where it is well suited. Beginning 2024, 3% of Class 2 and 3 vehicles, 7% of Class 4 through 8 trucks, and 3% of Class 7 and 8 tractors purchased in California must be zero-emission vehicles. By 2030, those standards will increase to 50% of Class 4-6 and 30% of Class 7-8 sales must be zero-emission vehicles. By 2045, all new vehicles sold in the state of California would require they be zero-emission vehicles.
Learn more about CARB, Advanced Clean Trucks, and their timeline here.