News: Final Regs on Emissions Due

June 1, 2005
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is nearing finalization of its regulation for emissions from large sparkignition (LSI) engines, including lift truck engines. The regulation is expected to be adopted by the CARB Board at its June 23-24 meeting.

CARB has replaced its original proposal, which would have required that all spark-ignition lift trucks over 8,000-lb. capacity be replaced by electrics, with a two-part approach: progressively lower emissions limits imposed on manufacturers of lift truck engines in 2007 and 2010; and progressively lower "fleet-average" standards imposed on endusers in 2009, 2011 and 2013. CARB views the manufacturer emission standards as the longer-term solution to LSI emissions, but wants the fleet-average standards in order to accelerate the use of cleaner equipment while the lower-emitting technology is being introduced into the market. End-users would meet the fleet-average standards by retrofitting older units and by purchasing electric units and/or cleaner spark-ignition units as their fleets are replaced. The extent to which end-users will need to accelerate their fleet turnover and/or incorporate more electric units will vary from user to user.

One area that CARB is still struggling with is how to handle rental/lease units in the fleet-average program. CARB's current proposal states that units rented for 30 days or less shall be a part of the rental company's fleet, while units rented for more than 30 days will become part of the enduser's fleet.

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