Search Results

Heavy-duty vehicles account for approximately 30 percent of the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 65 percent of the particulate matter (PM) emissions from the entire California on-road fleet, despite the fact that these vehicles comprise only 2 percent of the same. To meet legislative mandates to reduce excess smoke emissions from in-use heavy-duty diesel-powered vehicles, the Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) adopted, in December 1997, amendments to the regulations governing the operation and enforcement of the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection Program (HDVIP or the “roadside” program) and the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP or the “fleet” program). The initial roadside program was adopted in November 1990 in response to Senate Bill (SB) 1997 (stat. 1988, ch. 1544, Presley), and enforced from 1991 to 1993. It was suspended in October 1993, when the Board redirected staff to investigate reformulated fuels issues.

The EPA has proposed revising the Federal Test Procedure (FTP) used to evaluate compliance with emission standards. The revisions involve the addition of two new driving cycles, one of which (US06) includes high speeds and high acceleration rates. EPA has also proposed the operation of the air-conditioner on the “hot stabilized” cycle and the second (SC01) of the two new cycles. In order to meet emission standards on the new procedure, revisions to the emission control technology currently employed in cars and light trucks is required. In this study, we evaluated the range of potential changes to “engine out” emissions required, as well as requirements for catalyst improvements to withstand the higher exhaust temperatures and space velocity. Analysis of available test data suggested that power enrichment must be very nearly or completely eliminated to meet standards on the US06 test cycle.