The EPA has revised regulations for light and heavy-duty vehicles, making it easier for manufacturers to sell alternative-fuel engine conversions that are compliant with clean-air laws. The ruling will provide an exemption from the Clean Air Act's prohibition against tampering when converting an engine to run on alternative fuel.
In the past, a manufacturer of alternative-fuel conversion systems was required to certify its products in the same manner that a vehicle manufacturer certified its vehicles — an expensive and difficult process. The new regulations provide a way to comply with clean-air standards through streamlined testing.
But while some impediments to the manufacture and sale of conversions are reduced, the E.P.A. says that the new regulations maintain environmental safeguards that ensure acceptable emission levels from converted vehicles.
The compliance regulations for alternative-fuel conversions on older vehicles differ from those for new models, and the regulations for heavy-duty vehicles are not identical to those for passenger automobiles.
One might expect vehicle manufacturers to oppose any regulations that encourage vehicle modification, but that is not necessarily the case.
"When the government streamlines the process, it's very helpful," said Dick Cupka, the Ford commercial vehicles sustainability program manager, in a telephone interview. "We offer all sorts of alternative-fuel options through upfitters. These include biodiesel, E85, compressed natural gas and liquid propane gas," he added.
An upfitter is an aftermarket supplier who modifies a new vehicle before it goes to the end user, usually a fleet. In the case of Ford, the upfitter is supplied with a vehicle prepped for alternative fuel. The upfitter is then responsible for obtaining government certification of the final calibration.
The new regulations include consumer-targeted information packed with caveats and warnings. In a nod to the technical complexity and relative efficiency of vehicles, the E.P.A. makes an effort to emphasize that fuel choice alone does not determine how clean or how efficiently an engine runs. Rather, overall efficiency is influenced by the interaction of the chosen fuel with engine components and emission control systems.
The regulators further explain that because many alternative fuels are less energy-dense than gasoline or diesel fuel, a conversion can lead to reduced power and range.
An alternative-fuel conversion could have warranty implications as well, the E.P.A. literature says. Conversion manufacturers usually assume liability for problems resulting from the conversion, but gray areas may exist.
Tags: Sustainability
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