EPA to simplify emission certification for light-duty vehicles

15 July 1998

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new compliance assurance program for light-duty vehicles called CAP 2000. CAP 2000 would simplify and streamline the current procedures for pre-production certification of new motor vehicles. Under this proposal, the certification program would provide the same environmental benefits as the current procedures while reducing the certification cost for manufacturers, and would give manufacturers more control of production timing.

EPA also proposed that manufacturers test in-use motor vehicles to monitor compliance with emission standards. Manufacturers would test samples of in-use vehicles when they are approximately one and four years old. These test data would be used to improve the certification process to predict in-use compliance and to determine the need for further action by the EPA or the manufacturer to address any in-use compliance problems. EPA proposed that CAP 2000 be implemented beginning with model year (MY) 2001 vehicles. Manufacturers would be allowed to voluntarily opt-in to the CAP 2000 procedures beginning with the 2000 model year. EPA estimates that overall, manufacturers would save about $55 million dollars a year as a result of the simplified certification process.

The current proposal reflects the provisions of the Statement of Principles for Compliance Program Regulatory and Emissions Improvement, signed in February of 1996 by EPA, California ARB, and 18 vehicle manufacturers.

Source: US EPA