§ 86.1810-01 General standards; increase in emissions; unsafe conditions; waivers.

This section applies to model year 2001 and later light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks fueled by gasoline, diesel, methanol, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas fuels. This section also applies to MDPVs and complete heavy-duty vehicles certified according to the provisions of this subpart. Multi-fueled vehicles (including dual-fueled and flexible-fueled vehicles) shall comply with all requirements established for each consumed fuel (or blend of fuels in the case of flexible fueled vehicles). The standards of this subpart apply to both certification and in-use vehicles unless otherwise indicated. For Tier 2 and interim non-Tier 2 vehicles, this section also applies to hybrid electric vehicles and zero emission vehicles. Unless otherwise specified, requirements and provisions of this subpart applicable to methanol fueled vehicles are also applicable to Tier 2 and interim non-Tier 2 ethanol fueled vehicles.

(a) Any device, system or element of design installed on or incorporated in a new motor vehicle to enable such vehicle to conform to the standards imposed by this subpart:

(1) Shall not in its operation or function cause the emission into the ambient air of any noxious or toxic substance that would not be emitted in the operation of such vehicle without such system, except as specifically permitted by regulation; and

(2) Shall not in its operation, function or malfunction result in any unsafe condition endangering the vehicle, its occupants, or persons or property in close proximity to the vehicle.

(b) In establishing the physically adjustable range of each adjustable parameter on a new motor vehicle, the manufacturer shall ensure that, taking into consideration the production tolerances, safe vehicle drive ability characteristics are available within that range, as required by section 202(a)(4) of the Clean Air Act.

(c) Every manufacturer of new motor vehicles subject to any of the standards imposed by this subpart shall, prior to taking any of the actions specified in section 203(a)(1) of the Act, test or cause to be tested motor vehicles (or motor vehicle engines) in accordance with good engineering judgment to ascertain that such test vehicles will meet the requirements of this section for the useful life of the vehicle.

(d) Crankcase emissions prohibited. No crankcase emissions shall be discharged into the ambient atmosphere from any 2001 and later model year light-duty vehicle, light-duty truck, or complete heavy-duty vehicle certified according to the provisions of this subpart.

(e) On-board diagnostics. All light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks and complete heavy-duty vehicles must have an on-board diagnostic system as described in § 86.1806-01 or § 86.1806-04, as applicable.

(f) Altitude requirements. Unless otherwise specified, emission standards apply at low-altitude conditions and at high-altitude conditions. The following exceptions apply:

(1) The supplemental exhaust emission standards as described in § 86.1811-04(f) apply only at low-altitude conditions;

(2) The cold temperature NMHC emission standards as described in § 86.1811-10(g) apply only at low-altitude conditions;

(3) The evaporative emission standards specified in § 86.1811-09(e) apply at low-altitude conditions. The evaporative emission standards specified in § 86.1811-04(e) continue to apply at high-altitude conditions for 2009 and later model year vehicles.

(g) The standards set forth in this part refer to test procedures set forth in subparts B, C, O and P of this part.

(h) For methanol-fueled and natural gas-fueled vehicles, hydrocarbon standards refer to hydrocarbon equivalents and nonmethane hydrocarbon standards refer to nonmethane hydrocarbon equivalents.