EPA Streamlines Alt-Fuel Conversion Regulations

by Edward Niedermeyer

Updated: June 7th, 2023 Published: April 6th, 2011

The Environmental Protection Agency has revised its alternative-fuel conversion regulations for light and heavy-duty vehicles, making it easier for manufacturers to sell conversions that are compliant with clean-air laws. The 186-page ruling provides an exemption from a Clean Air Act prohibition against tampering when converting an engine to run on alternative fuel.

In the past, a manufacturer of alternative-fuel conversion systems was required to certify its products in the same manner that a vehicle manufacturer certified its vehicles — an expensive and difficult process. The new regulations provide a way to comply with clean-air standards through streamlined testing.

In essence, the rule change creates a graded compliance structure, depending on the age of the converted vehicle, making it easier to retrofit older vehicles. Read all about it at the EPA’s website.

#AlternativeEnergy #FuelEconomy #Government #Green #Regulation

Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments

Join the conversation

10 of 16 comments

Athos Nobile on Apr 06, 2011

FOR TEH WIN!!!11!! That should really give a kick for car conversion. People moving into the system now will be delighted by the benefits brought by the current technology: excellent driveability and losses in or below the 10% range. If calibrated properly the customer won't see the difference. Provided there's enough demand in certain models, system manufacturers will go all the way to pass an emission controls test. In Europe many cars have already been certified. On that Corolla, you got to see how clean it is. One of the cleanest set ups I've seen. They go off the line like that in Venezuela. By the way, the tank is usually covered by the carpet.

Like Reply
ChuckR on Apr 06, 2011

A first step of thousands needed to rid us of the more pettifogging regulations. Oh, and Congress should still send them a message that the only way they will be allowed to regulate CO2 is by breathing more slowly.

Like Reply
HerrKaLeun on Apr 07, 2011

why are you guys so concerned about the range and distance to the home fueling station? All natural gas (or LPG) cars I know have both gasoline and the respective gas tank. they automatically switch over to gasoline when gas runs out. Obviously your monetary advantage goes away when you drive with petrol gasoline, but here is not range anxiety (as long a we have gas stations, though). I assume their gasoline tank is smaller to save space and wight (5 gallons?), but I'm not even sure about that. The engine is pretty much the same as a gasoline engine. Possible they tampered with compression, ignition point etc. nothing as revolutionary as a hybrid or EV. I assume all the home-brew-grease diesel conversions never got EPA certified :-)

Like Reply
- See 5 previous
- Athos Nobile on Apr 07, 2011
  
  There are some dedicated CNG or LPG cars in the market, hence the range anxiety. A normal car converted to run also on CNG or LPG retains its stock fuel tank. Usually the alternative fuel is good for around one third to half the range of petrol.
  
  Like
- Michal on Apr 07, 2011
  
  Athos, I have a Mitsubishi Lancer converted to LPG (vapour injection system) and can say the fuel consumption has gone up around 15% compared to gasoline. Even so, the running cost works out to be around half price and the range is identical to gasoline (LPG tank is a bit larger).
  
  Like
- Nikita on Apr 07, 2011
  
  The only CNG cars here are dedicated, not dual fuel. In order to take advantage of the much higher octane of gaseous fuels, and minimize horsepower loss, compression ratio is increased beyond what will run on gasoline. Yes, the engine is basically the same, not even approaching the complexity of a hybrid. Thats a big part of the attraction to me.
  
  Like
- Psarhjinian on Apr 07, 2011
  
  Dual-fuel CNG cars often have a notional trunk unless you're talking pickup or Crown Vic (and even then...). If that's ok with you, you may as well get a hybrid. They're also notoriously slow to refuel using the home-installed kits. Again, PHEV is much easier, cheaper and probably about as fast. I can't see the point with CNG, not when plug-in hybrids (and even EVs) have a huge infrastructure lead, are more carbon-neutral, and offer about the same economy.
  
  Like
- Nikita on Apr 07, 2011
  
  @psarhjinian Refueling at a public station is essentially identical to filling your gasoline or diesel tank. Much of the infrastructure exists, gas mains running down the street, but that is not quite as extensive as the electric grid. Still, ten minute fillups of batteries is not yet doable. As for the carbon issue, About 50 percent of US electricity is from coal, about 20 from nuke, wind, solar, etc. and the rest from oil and gas. So, it depends on where you live.
  
  Like
- Athos Nobile on Apr 07, 2011
  
  @Michal I was speaking from my CNG experience. Good to know that you got a tank with the same range as petrol. And about the economy, is what I'd expect. Do you have multipoint LPG injection, LPI or the vaporizer system?
  
  Like
Onewheeldrive on Apr 07, 2011

Watch the movie Gasland and you might not feel so confident in the future of nat gas. Pretty depressing portrait of this "clean and abundant" energy source.

Like Reply