CALIFORNIA COULD END HEAVY DIESEL VEHICLE SALES

Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) plans to improve California air quality could eliminate heavy duty diesel engines in that state before 2000.

So claims the Engine Manufacturers Association, a trade group representing manufacturers of internal combustion engines for all uses except passenger cars and aircraft.

EMA warned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that proceeding with its CAA federal implementation plan (FIP) for California will mean fewer, more costly engines for heavy duty equipment and vehicle operators in the state.

"What the FIP proposes for heavy duty on-highway and nonroad engines is not practical or possible," Jed Mandel, EMA counsel, told an EPA hearing on the FIP last week in Diamond Bar, Calif. "The 1.5 g NOx standard proposed in the FIP means no more diesel powered trucks and buses will be sold in California after 1998."

Earlier this year, EPA, acting on a series of court orders handed down since the late 1970s, proposed FIPs for the Los Angeles basin and air quality regions surrounding Ventura and Sacramento (OGJ, May 30, p. 23).

Under the 1990 CAA amendments, the three California regions must develop by Nov. 15, 1994, a plan to cut target emissions by 30-90% during 1999-2000 to bring them into compliance for ozone and Los Angeles into compliance for carbon monoxide. Specifically at issue for EMA is the FIP's proposed standard for emissions of nitrogen oxides, an ozone precursor.

NOX STANDARD

Mandel said, "The proposed 1.5 g ultralow NOx emission standard would force all new on-highway and nonroad engines to alternative fuels by 1999, presenting significant infrastructure, technology, customer satisfaction, and compliance problems.

"Alternative fueled engines are not available in the incredibly broad range of horsepower, ratings, and configurations required to meet the thousands of vehicle and equipment applications in use in California. The absence of widespread alternative fuels infrastructure will limit the operation of equipment and vehicles."

Mandel challenged EPA's data and analysis used to develop the FIP, arguing, "It substantially exaggerated future growth and usage of vehicles and equipment, thereby exaggerating the amount of reductions that must be obtained from such sources."

EMA contends a cost effective, technologically feasible program can be developed to sharply reduce NOx emissions without resorting to a 1.5 g NOx engine standard but without providing the same daily NOx emissions reductions EPA projects from the FIP. However, EMA says EPA has failed to demonstrate feasibility of its proposal or consider costs and effects of a transition to alternative fuels.

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Once the sale of diesel powered trucks and buses is effectively halted in California by the FIP after 1998, the fuel of choice for heavy duty vehicles there likely will be natural gas, EMA contends.

"Depending on application, vehicles powered by natural gas could cost our customer twice as much and have a 30-50% fuel economy penalty (relative to) diesel powered versions," EMA member Navistar International Transportation Corp. said at the hearing.

"Fuel availability and composition for refueling in-state and out-of-state trucks are also major concerns. We have the technical capability to provide special low NOx vehicles...but they will be very expensive...and will fundamentally alter the economics of transporting goods and people in California.