The U.S. government will mandate uniform tailpipe emissions for passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and other light-duty trucks.
President Bill Clinton said, “For the first time, we require all passenger
vehicles, including the popular sport utility vehicles, to meet the same
tough pollution standards. And for the first time our plan addresses not
only the cars we drive, but also the fuel they use. Because sulfur clogs
and impairs anti-pollution devices, we’re proposing to cut the sulfur
content of gasoline by about 90 percent over the next five years.”
The new standard mandates that cars are 77 percent cleaner, and SUVs
and other light-duty trucks 95 percent cleaner, than today’s models. It
will be effective beginning in 2004 and will be phased in over the
following five years. The measures, when fully implemented, will reduce vehicle
emissions at a level equivalent to removing 166 million cars from the road.
The projected costs to meet the standard equal about $100 for cars, $200 for
light-duty trucks, and between one and two cents per gallon of gas.
At the same time, average gasoline sulfur levels will be reduced from 300 to 30 parts per million. The impact of this reduction equals removing 54 million cars from the road. The EPA has proposed credits for early pollution reductions. In 2001, auto manufacturers may obtain credits for later use for vehicles produced at or below the standard. Refiners and importers of gasoline will be allowed to trade sulfur credits they can use later or sell to another refiner.
The Big Three automakers are also considering adding SUVs to a joint government-industry program that would triple gasoline mileage by 2004. The government is investing $250 million into the project.
The public comment period is underway. Visit the EPA Office of Mobile Sources for information on the new proposed rules to reduce emissions and sulfur:
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