Alternative Methods for Calculating Off-Cycle Credits Under the Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Program: Applications From Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
|---|
Topics: Volkswagen
|
Byron Bunker
Environmental Protection Agency
23 October 2020
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 206 (Friday, October 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67535-67536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23464]
[[Page 67535]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ- OAR-2018-0575; FRL 10016-09-OAR]
Alternative Methods for Calculating Off-Cycle Credits Under the
Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Program: Applications From
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is requesting comment on applications from Volkswagen
Group of America, Inc. (``Volkswagen '') for off-cycle carbon dioxide
(CO2) credits under EPA's light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas
emissions standards. ``Off-cycle'' emission reductions can be achieved
by employing technologies that result in real-world benefits, but where
that benefit is not adequately captured on the test procedures used by
manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with emission standards. EPA's
light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas program acknowledges these benefits
by giving automobile manufacturers several options for generating
``off-cycle'' CO2 credits. Under the regulations, a
manufacturer may apply for CO2 credits for off-cycle
technologies that result in off-cycle benefits. In these cases, a
manufacturer must provide EPA with a proposed methodology for
determining the real-world off-cycle benefit. Volkswagen has submitted
an application that describe methodologies for determining off-cycle
credits from technologies described in their application. Pursuant to
applicable regulations, EPA is making these off-cycle credit
calculation methodologies available for public comment.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 23, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2018-0575, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The
EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not
submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must
be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered
the official comment and should include discussion of all points you
wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web,
cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission
methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective
comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linc Wehrly, Office of Transportation
and Air Quality, Compliance Division, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Phone: (734) 214-
4286. Fax: (734) 214-4869. Email address: wehrly.linc@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
EPA's light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) program provides
three pathways by which a manufacturer may accrue off-cycle carbon
dioxide (CO2) credits for those technologies that achieve
CO2 reductions in the real world but where those reductions
are not adequately captured on the test used to determine compliance
with the CO2 standards, and which are not otherwise
reflected in the standards' stringency. The first pathway is a
predetermined list of credit values for specific off-cycle technologies
that may be used beginning in model year 2014.\1\ This pathway allows
manufacturers to use conservative credit values established by EPA for
a wide range of technologies, with minimal data submittal or testing
requirements, if the technologies meet EPA regulatory definitions. In
cases where the off-cycle technology is not on the menu but additional
laboratory testing can demonstrate emission benefits, a second pathway
allows manufacturers to use a broader array of emission tests (known as
``5-cycle'' testing because the methodology uses five different testing
procedures) to demonstrate and justify off-cycle CO2
credits.\2\ The additional emission tests allow emission benefits to be
demonstrated over some elements of real-world driving not adequately
captured by the GHG compliance tests, including high speeds, hard
accelerations, and cold temperatures. These first two methodologies
were completely defined through notice and comment rulemaking and
therefore no additional process is necessary for manufacturers to use
these methods. The third and last pathway allows manufacturers to seek
EPA approval to use an alternative methodology for determining the off-
cycle CO2 credits.\3\ This option is only available if the
benefit of the technology cannot be adequately demonstrated using the
5-cycle methodology. Manufacturers may also use this option to
demonstrate reductions that exceed those available via use of the
predetermined list.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(b).
\2\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(c).
\3\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the regulations, a manufacturer seeking to demonstrate off-
cycle credits with an alternative methodology (i.e., under the third
pathway described above) must describe a methodology that meets the
following criteria:
Use modeling, on-road testing, on-road data collection, or
other approved analytical or engineering methods;
Be robust, verifiable, and capable of demonstrating the
real-world emissions benefit with strong statistical significance;
Result in a demonstration of baseline and controlled
emissions over a wide range of driving conditions and number of
vehicles such that issues of data uncertainty are minimized;
Result in data on a model type basis unless the
manufacturer demonstrates that another basis is appropriate and
adequate.
Further, the regulations specify the following requirements
regarding an application for off-cycle CO2 credits:
A manufacturer requesting off-cycle credits must develop a
methodology for demonstrating and determining the benefit of the off-
cycle technology and carry out any necessary testing and analysis
required to support that methodology.
A manufacturer requesting off-cycle credits must conduct
testing and/or prepare engineering analyses that demonstrate the in-use
durability of the technology for the full useful life of the vehicle.
The application must contain a detailed description of the
off-cycle technology and how it functions to reduce CO2
emissions under conditions not represented on the compliance tests.
The application must contain a list of the vehicle
model(s) which will be equipped with the technology.
The application must contain a detailed description of the
test vehicles selected and an engineering analysis that supports the
selection of those vehicles for testing.
The application must contain all testing and/or simulation
data required under the regulations, plus any other data the
manufacturer has considered in the analysis.
[[Page 67536]]
Finally, the alternative methodology must be approved by EPA prior
to the manufacturer using it to generate credits. As part of the review
process defined by regulation, the alternative methodology submitted to
EPA for consideration must be made available for public comment.\4\ EPA
will consider public comments as part of its final decision to approve
or deny the request for off-cycle credits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(d)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Off-Cycle Credit Applications
Using the alternative methodology approach discussed above,
Volkswagen is applying for credits for model years 2016, 2017, 2018 and
2019 model years for off-cycle credits using the alternative
demonstration methodology pathway for high-efficiency alternators.
Automotive alternators convert mechanical energy from a combustion
engine into electrical energy that can be used to power a vehicle's
electrical systems. Alternators inherently place a load on the engine,
which results in increased fuel consumption and CO2
emissions. High efficiency alternators use new technologies to reduce
the overall load on the engine yet continue to meet the electrical
demands of the vehicle systems, resulting in lower fuel consumption and
lower CO2 emissions. Some comments on EPA's proposed rule
for GHG standards for the 2016-2025 model years suggested that EPA
provide a credit for high-efficiency alternators on the pre-defined
list in the regulations. While EPA agreed that high-efficiency
alternators can reduce electrical load and reduce fuel consumption, and
that these impacts are not seen on the emission test procedures because
accessories that use electricity are turned off, EPA noted the
difficulty in defining a one-size-fits-all credit due to lack of data.
Since then, however a methodology has been developed that scales
credits based on the efficiency of the alternator; alternators with
efficiency (as measured using an accepted industry standard procedure)
above a baseline value could get credits. EPA has previously approved
credits for high-efficiency alternators using this methodology for Ford
Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles,
Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota Motor Company. Details of the testing and
analysis can be found in the manufacturer's applications.
III. EPA Decision Process
EPA has reviewed the applications for completeness and is now
making the applications available for public review and comment as
required by the regulations. The off-cycle credit applications
submitted by the manufacturer (with confidential business information
redacted) have been placed in the public docket (see ADDRESSES section
above) and on EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/vehicle-and-engine-certification/compliance-information-light-duty-greenhouse-gas-ghg-standards. EPA is providing a 30-day comment period on the applications
for off-cycle credits described in this notice, as specified by the
regulations. The manufacturers may submit a written rebuttal of
comments for EPA's consideration, or may revise an application in
response to comments. After reviewing any public comments and any
rebuttal of comments submitted by manufacturers, EPA will make a final
decision regarding the credit requests. EPA will make its decision
available to the public by placing a decision document (or multiple
decision documents) in the docket and on EPA's website at the same
manufacturer-specific pages shown above. While the broad methodologies
used by these manufacturers could potentially be used for other
vehicles and by other manufacturers, the vehicle specific data needed
to demonstrate the off-cycle emissions reductions would likely be
different. In such cases, a new application would be required,
including an opportunity for public comment.
Dated: October 19, 2020.
Byron Bunker,
Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air
Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2020-23464 Filed 10-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P