First car to meet California’s SULEV20: 2014 Honda Accord PHEV

Honda’s 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid has become the first car for sale in California to meet the California’s Air Resources Board’s SULEV20 standard.

The car produces 20 milligrams of combined smog-forming emissions per mile. This makes it the first gasoline-powered car in California to meet the most stringent standard in the nation and one-third cleaner (in terms of smog-forming pollution) than the previous lowest state standard.

 

 

In addition, the ARB says this Honda model has lower greenhouse gas emissions than the fleet average standard required by all cars in 2025, the equivalent of a 50-percent reduction from current required levels.

“Once again, Honda is the first to comply with ARB’s most stringent standard,” said Tom Cackette, ARB’s Deputy Executive Officer and head of the mobile source program. “Honda has demonstrated that a dedicated commitment to the environment and advanced engineering at every level of the company can deliver the cleanest cars well ahead of schedule.”

ARB stated that Honda has a history of being the first manufacturer to comply with California’s strict emission standards. In 1995, the 1996 Civic was the first certified Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) gasoline vehicle. In 1997, the 1998 Accord was the first certified ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) gasoline vehicle. The following year, in 1999, the 2000 Accord was the first certified Super Ultra-low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) gasoline vehicle. In 2001, the 2001 Civic GX powered by compressed natural gas was the first certified Advanced Technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle (AT PZEV). And in 2002, the 2003 Civic Hybrid was the first certified Advanced Technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle (AT PZEV) hybrid vehicle.

The Executive Order allowing Honda to sell the newly certified ultra-clean cars in California was signed on December 21, following a detailed examination of emissions andperformance test results. Honda began production of the car that same day.

As a result of the technology in its design, the full-size sedan model achieves 124 MPGe city / 105 MPGe highway in hybrid mode, and 47 MPG city / 46 MPG highway in standard (gas only) mode.

The ARB stated that the low emissions standards that this Honda model meets are part of California’s Advanced Clean Cars package of regulations, adopted in January 2012, that will ensure increasingly cleaner cars for sale in the state, and provide for increased choices of zero-emission vehicles.

The ARB believes that when fully in force in 2025, the new set of standards will reduce smog-causing pollutants from low-emission vehicles 75 percent from current levels, and greenhouse gases by 34 percent. This will result in less overall vehicle emissions and cleaner air, along with more efficient cars that will ultimately require less fossil fuel to operate.

The new requirements will save California drivers $5 billion in operating costs in 2025, and $10 billion by 2030 when more advanced cars are on the road, according to the ARB.

EPA Approves California’s Advanced Clean Car Package

 
 

By Philippe Crowe

While we’re talking about California oriented news, latest from the Golden state that stands to affect the auto industry is its Advanced Clean Car package including Zero Emission Vehicle and Low Emission Vehicle standard has been federally green-lighted.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave yesterday the OK to California to put in place its Advanced Clean Cars package of regulations.
 

 

This sets the stage for a new generation of ultra-clean cars starting in 2017 that slash smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions and pave the way for increased numbers of zero-emission vehicles through 2025 and beyond.

This announcement by the U.S.E.P.A. also clears the way for other states covering up to 40 percent of new car sales nationally to adopt California’s standards as their own. According to the California Air Resources Board (ARB), this will ensure that the latest technologies will further reduce smog-forming emissions nearly to zero and boost the numbers of zero-emission vehicles sold through 2025.

“This decision by the federal government recognizes California’s important role under the Clean Air Act to set the toughest vehicle emissions standards in the nation, ,” said Air Resources Board Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “It also allows other states to adopt California’s package of clean car regulations, helping clean up the air and save consumers nationwide billions of dollars at the pump.”

The Advanced Clean Car package includes the Low Emission Vehicle standard (LEV III) regulation, designed to reduce by 75 percent smog-causing pollutants in gasoline powered vehicles by 2025 from 2017 levels. The ARB states this standard will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from those same vehicles by 34 percent, a figure that parallels federal regulations.

California’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standard will drive a shift from gasoline engines to a wider variety of fuel sources, including plug-in hybrids, electric and fuel cell vehicles. These vehicles approach or achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions.

By 2025 the ZEV regulations are expected by the authorities to put 1.4 million of these vehicles on the road in California, and make them represent 15 percent of annualnew vehicle sales, with further dramatic growth expected through 2050 and beyond.

The state of California pushed these regulations forward as cars are considered by this state to be their largest source of air pollution and greenhouse gases. California’s Advanced Clean Car Program aims to continue to drive new vehicle technology, accelerating the next generation of clean cars that are already commercially available.

According to the ARB, economically, California drivers will save $5 billion in operating costs in 2025, and $10 billion by 2030 when more advanced cars are on the road. In 2025, average consumers will see nearly $6,000 in fuel cost savings over the life of the car, nearly triple the estimated per vehicle cost. Based on typical financing for a new vehicle, savings accrue the minute the car drives off the lot.

Source: GM-Volt.com