The Diesel Technology Forum (DTF) has called on the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) to match California's urban bus emissions standards with existing federal standards for the years 2007 to 2009.

It is believed that such a change in policy would encourage urban transit agencies to use newer, cleaner engines over the next few years, helping to significantly lower the emission of harmful gases.

However, the DTF has warned that if CARB maintains the current standards for bus emissions, there will be no pressure on bus companies to implement these cleaner engines, keeping older, dirtier buses on the road for longer.

"In the ongoing effort to achieve cleaner air in California, we support the proposal to align the statewide 2007-2009 model year urban bus standards for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) with the federal standards applicable to heavy- duty on-highway engines, as it will achieve significant emissions benefits and cleaner air sooner than if the state's current 2007 NOx standard remains unchanged," the DTF announced in its statement to CARB.

CARB has itself estimated that 62 per cent of California's urban buses are diesel-operated, and that if bus emission standards are not modified, many companies will not purchase new buses until 2010.

"Aligning the urban bus standard will thus yield emissions benefits greater than what would likely be achieved if CARB chooses to stay the course in model years 2007-2009," concluded the DTF's statement.




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