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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has declared that all light trucks and mini-vans up to 8,500 pounds, as well as all diesel-powered vehicles, must meet the same new, more stringent tailpipe standards as gasoline-powered passenger cars.

Dieselmakers say they did not expect their engines to be included in the Nov. 5 ruling, and were thus unprepared. They claim they presently cannot meet the new Low Emission Vehicle II (LEVII) standard, which basically halves present gasoline-engine emission levels. Under existing California levels, known as TLEV, gasoline-fueled light trucks were allowed to emit up to 2.5 times as much as cars.

The new LEVII regs will be phased in over three years, beginning in the 2004 model year. If vehicles do not meet LEVII, they will not be permitted for sale in California. Last year light trucks comprised nearly 45% of the 1.6 million new vehicles sold in the Golden State, with diesels accounting for 10% of the truck mix.

But a new generation of diesels, being readied by Cummins, Detroit Diesel, GM, Mercedes and Navistar, offer 40% fuel economy gains for sport-utilities and minivans as well as pickups. Automakers are counting on this technology to boost Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE).

However, the new diesels will still be unable to meet LEVII's ultra-strict levels of NOx (oxides of nitrogen, a particular problem with diesels and other lean-combustion engines). And they also face CARB's recent conclusion that their exhaust particulates are carcinogenic.

"If you eliminate diesels, you also eliminate the hybrids we're all developing," says Charlie Kitz, vice president of environmental and energy planning at DaimlerChrysler, who attended the meeting. "California is only concerned with the tailpipe, not fuel economy. But that's a huge concern, too."

The diesel-emissions ruling "just blindsided us," says Tim Leuliette, vice chairman of Detroit Diesel Corp. in Romulus, Mich. "We honestly weren't aware that anyone was supporting it." The solution, he says, is to go back to the table with CARB if possible. "This decision is clearly out of step with market and fuel-efficiency realities -- witness Europe's light diesel sales reaching 30% of the overall vehicle market," he notes.

Kitz commented that "there wasn't even a general recognition by CARB that trucks are used as tracks at least part of the time." He says the industry agreed there is a need to get trucks closer to cars' emission levels. But the LEVII ruling will stifle full-sized trucks' hauling performance, he claims.

"It appeared they (CARB) were not open to serious discussion," Kitz observes. "These rulings are so critical to us because the EPA is considering incorporating them into its upcoming Tier 2 regs." Those tougher standards are also expected in 2004.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:26 AM