Yesterday we told you about the US Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency outlining stringent fuel and greenhouse gas emission standards (see article) – and now we can inform you about a new credit scheme for electric, plug-in and fuel cell vehicles.
The EPA will establish a system of averaging, banking and trading of credits based on fleet average CO2 performance. This provides a temporary programme with credit provisions as incentives for the development and sales of these alternative fuel vehicles.
It will allow manufacturers to earn credits towards the fleet-wide average CO2 standards for improving air conditioning systems and reducing indirect emissions related to the increased load on the engine. Earning credits in this way is determined with a demonstration of improvements both towards efficiency and refrigerant leakage.
Under the technology assessment, there are a number of ways for manufacturers to lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy including: engine improvements; advanced transmissions; increased use of start-stop technology; reductions in vehicle weight; improvements in tyre performance; and increased use of hybrid and other advanced technologies. The EPA will also project improvements in vehicle air conditioners and more efficient low leak systems.
With the new credit system, there can be credit trading among all vehicles a manufacturer produces and between companies. Additional credit provisions are based on the use of advanced technologies with both the NHTSA and the EPA offering credits for vehicles designed to operate on alternative fuels. How the programmes will work has not yet been finalised.
