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January
2004
Summary
The AQMD’s fleet rules, adopted in 2000 and 2001, are a set of seven
measures aimed at reducing both toxic and smog-forming air pollutants in
Southern California by shifting vehicle fleets to readily-available,
lower-emission vehicles when public agencies and certain private entities
with 15 or more vehicles purchase or lease new vehicles. Each measure
exempts fleet operators if they can demonstrate that the specific model they
need is not commercially available in a clean-fuel version.
Air Quality and Health Benefits
The fleet rules are a key component of AQMD’s clean air
strategy. On- and off-road vehicles are responsible for about 80 percent of
the volatile organic compound and nitrogen oxide emissions that form ozone,
one of the region’s most serious pollutants.
Diesel vehicles alone contribute 23 percent of all
nitrogen oxide emissions, a key ingredient in particulate pollution.
Particulate pollution is linked to a number of harmful health effects
including increased hospital admissions and increased death rates.
In addition to emitting smog-forming pollutants,
heavy-duty diesel-fueled vehicles targeted by AQMD’s fleet rules, along with
other diesel equipment, are responsible for 70 percent of the total cancer
risk from air pollution in Southern California.
By 2010, the fleet rules are expected to reduce 4,870
tons per year of emissions, specifically:
- 75 tons per year of hydrocarbons
- 2,699 tons per year of carbon monoxide
- 1,931 tons per year of nitrogen oxides
- 165 tons per year of particulates
Fleet Rules
The fleet rules require selected fleets to gradually shift toward
low-emission and clean-burning vehicles. The rules and respective fleets
affected are:
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Rule 1191
– Light- and Medium-Duty Public Fleets
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Rule 1192
– Transit Buses
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Rule 1193
– Refuse Collection Vehicles
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Rule 1194
– Commercial Airport Ground Access Vehicles
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Rule 1195
– School Buses
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Rule 1196
– Heavy-Duty Public Fleet Vehicles
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Rule
1186.1 – Less-Polluting Sweepers
Status
A number of Southland agencies and organizations have
already changed some or all of their fleets to alternative fuels. For
example, 60 percent of the region’s transit buses now are clean-fueled. In
most cases, fleets report successful operations including a good safety
record, satisfactory vehicle performance and even fuel savings. Since AQMD
adopted its fleet rules, more than 5,500 clean-fueled heavy-duty vehicles
and more than 3,400 low-emission passenger vehicles have been added to the
region’s fleets, including:
- 3,430 passenger vehicles
- 3,000 transit buses
- 943 refuse collection trucks
- 500 air port shuttles and taxis
- 320 school buses
- 665 heavy-duty public utility vehicles
- 151 street sweepers
Funding
There are federal, state and local incentive programs
available to assist public and private entities with fleet rule compliance.
The collaborative efforts of local, state and federal agencies have provided
more than $100 million in incentive funding for vehicle replacement and $24
million for supporting fueling infrastructure.
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