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FACT SHEET

April 25, 2003

Tighter emissions standards for big trucks and buses are part of Drive Clean's continuous improvement

The Ontario government is proposing improvements to the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) component of Ontario's Drive Clean program,which will result in the province having the strictest emissions standards in North America for big trucks and buses. The improvements will also help ensure further protection for the health of children who might be exposed to exhaust fumes from heavy-duty diesel school buses.

Drive Clean is a cornerstone of the government's comprehensive approach to improving air quality by reducing smog-causing emissions from vehicles. The proposals for the heavy-duty vehicle program are part of the program's commitment to continuous improvement. And these improvements achieve a balance between environmental needs and the needs of the trucking and bus industries.

Emissions reductions

Drive Clean's heavy-duty vehicle program is very successful. A recent independent analysis of the program determined that it had reduced particulate matter from diesel exhaust by 898 tonnes in 2000 and 2001. This represents an 18 per cent reduction. And it is more than twice the original target of a reduction of 220 tonnes each year.

Particulate matter, largely the result of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, and ground-level ozone create smog. Particulate matter is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Heavy-duty diesel vehicles are responsible for more than half of the particulate matter from transportation sources. More than 85 per cent of that particulate matter is very small, 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in size, and can easily enter the lungs.

Current program requirements

The new emissions standards will apply across all of Ontario, since diesel-powered HDV are required to have annual tests for licence renewal if they are registered anywhere in the province. This applies to vehicles that are more than three model years old (i.e., model year 2000 or earlier in calendar year 2003), without any limit on the age of vehicles to be tested. Re-sale vehicles also require testing for ownership transfer if they are older than the current model year (i.e., model year 2002 or earlier, in calendar year 2003).

The emissions of diesel-powered HDV are judged on the basis of opacity, the amount of light that exhaust emissions can block during a snap-acceleration test. Current standards allow 55 per cent of the light to be blocked by the exhaust of vehicles that are 1990 or older model years and 40 per cent by those that are model year 1991 and newer. New and cleaner diesel engine technology was introduced in 1991, which is why that year has been set as a dividing line for the standards.

This 55/40 formula is accepted across North America as the test standard for diesels. Well-maintained diesel heavy-duty vehicles can easily surpass these standards. In addition, the human eye reportedly detects vehicle emissions at a much lower opacity limit (possibly as low as 20 per cent), which means that many vehicles that meet the standards may still be perceived to be "dirty" by observers when they are operating under load.

Tighter emissions standards

The new heavy-duty diesel standards will be implemented in two steps. In April of 2004, the opacity level will be reduced to 35 per cent for 1991 and newer vehicles and 45 per cent for 1990 and older. In April 2005, the level for 1991 and newer vehicles will be 30 per cent and the standard for older vehicles 40 per cent.

This will ensure that there are greater emissions reductions as more heavy-duty vehicles with emissions problems are identified and repaired in order to have their licences renewed. Most repaired vehicles will have emissions levels at a level below that discernable to the human eye which will not only reduce the harmful pollutants in our air but may also alleviate some public concerns about smoking vehicles.

The annual reductions in HDV standards will be roughly equivalent to the tightening of standards for light-duty vehicles. The standards for light-duty vehicles have been tightened by 11.5 per cent in 2003 and will be tightened a further 11.5 per cent in 2005.

Even tighter standards for school buses

The exposure of children to diesel exhaust fumes is a matter of concern. All heavy-duty diesel school buses will have to meet the stricter of the two emissions standards in place for other heavy-duty diesel vehicles each year - a 35 per cent opacity level on April 1, 2004, and a 30 per cent level on April 1, 2005. These standards will apply no matter the age of the vehicles, unlike other heavy-duty vehicles where the standards are applied on the basis of age (with the 1991 model year as the dividing line).

A broad sample of school buses tested in Drive Clean shows that the majority of buses already meet these standards. It should not be difficult for all school buses to achieve the tighter standards. The majority of the heavy-duty diesel school buses in Ontario are newer than the 1991 model year.

Incentive to do better

The owners and operators of heavy-duty vehicles will be given an incentive to ensure their vehicles are well maintained. They will be exempted from the next year's test if they surpass the Drive Clean standards by achieving an opacity level of 20 per cent or less. This effectively means that some vehicles will only require testing every two years (as long as they attain that 20 per cent opacity level), instead of annually. Vehicles that register over 20 per cent opacity will still require annual tests.

This measure will not only help achieve even greater emissions reductions and environmental and health protection, but will also reduce the number of visibly smoking vehicles on the road. And the possibility of only requiring a test every two years is consistent with Drive Clean's light-duty program for cars and other passenger vehicles.

Implementing the new standards

The opportunity for heavy-duty diesel vehicles to qualify for a test every two years instead of annually by meeting the more stringent emissions standard will be phased in. The phase-in will be consistent with requirements of the light-duty vehicle program for passenger vehicles, which requires testing of odd model year vehicles in even calendar years and vice-versa. In 2004, heavy-duty diesel vehicles of odd-model years (2001, 1999, 1997, etc.) will qualify for the chance to skip the next year's test. In 2005, even-model years (2002, 2000, 1998, etc.) will qualify.

The Smog Patrol

MOE's Vehicle Emissions Enforcement Unit - the Smog Patrol - will apply the new HDV emissions standards in its on-road enforcement activities which include all vehicles using Ontario's highways, whether they are registered in Ontario or from out-of-province.

The Smog Patrol, which has dedicated heavy-duty and light-duty units, enforces provisions of the Environmental Protection Act by inspecting and testing vehicles that are suspected of exceeding the provincial emissions standards. The Smog Patrol also inspects vehicles for disconnected or missing emissions control equipment.

In addition to conducting its own blitzes and investigations, the Smog Patrol works with the Ministry of Transportation and various police agencies throughout the province. Light-duty vehicle owners can be fined $305, plus a victim surcharge, for emissions-related offences while the fine for heavy-duty vehicles is $425, plus a victim surcharge.

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For further information on Drive Clean, please call 1-888-758-2999 (toll-free) or visit www.driveclean.com

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