Archived: Fleet average performance for oxides of nitrogen emissions of 2014 model year vehicles

Official title: Fleet average NOx emission performance of 2014 model year light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles

In relation to the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Transportation Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada

November 2017

Download a copy of the report in a portable document format (266 Kilobytes)

Table of contents

1. Executive summary
2. Purpose
3. Introduction
4. Company fleet average NOx emission performance for the 2014 model year
   • 4.1 Scope of company reports
   • 4.2 Distribution of bins and total Canada NOx fleet average value
   • 4.3 Fleet average NOx values trend
5. Conclusions

List of tables

• Table 1: Summary of company reports
• Table 2: Distribution of vehicles by the NOx standard of each bin

List of figures

 

• Figure 1: Fleet average NOx values and standards

1. Executive summary

Under the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations (hereafter referred to as the “Regulations”), each new light-duty vehicle, light-duty truck and medium-duty passenger vehicle is required to be certified by its manufacturer to one of the bins corresponding to those of the United States Environmental Protection Agency for which there are specific emission standards for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other pollutants. Manufacturers and importers of these vehicles are required to report on their fleet average NOx emission performance for each model year.

This eleventh annual performance report summarizes the fleet average NOx emission performance of the Canadian 2014 model year fleet of vehicles.  A total of 21 companies submitted end of model year reports comprising a total of 1,724,084 vehicles manufactured in Canada or imported into Canada for the purpose of first retail sale. This report includes the fleet average NOx value for each company as well as their number of emission credits or deficits. It also provides a comparison of the distribution of vehicles certified to the various emissions bins and compares the overall NOx performance with that of previous model years.

The average NOx value for the Canadian 2014 model year combined fleet of light-duty vehicles, light light-duty trucks, heavy light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles is 0.05907711 grams/mile compared to the standard of 0.07 grams/mile. Each company had a fleet average NOx value that was at or below the standard and complied with the fleet averaging provisions of the Regulations based on their reports.

The average NOx value continued to decrease for the 2014 model year. This result is consistent with the environmental performance objectives of the Regulations.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this report is to summarize the fleet average NOx emission performance of individual companies and the overall Canadian fleet for the 2014 model year (MY) based on data submitted by companies in their end of model year reports and any subsequent revisions received prior to the publication of this report. It also serves to report on the effectiveness of the Canadian fleet average NOx emission program in achieving the environmental performance objectives.

3. Introduction

On January 1, 2004, the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations came into effect under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). These Regulations introduced more stringent national emission standards for on-road vehicles and engines. The Regulations align Canada’s emission standards for light-duty vehicles^{Footnote 1} (LDVs), light light-duty trucks^{Footnote 2}  (LLDTs), heavy light-duty trucks^{Footnote 3} (HLDTs), medium-duty passenger vehicles^{Footnote 4} (MDPVs), heavy-duty vehicles, heavy-duty engines and on-road motorcycles with those of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through incorporation by reference to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Each new LDV, LLDT, HLDT and MDPV is required to be certified to a bin for which there are specific emission standards for NOx and other pollutants. A company’s choice of bin to which individual vehicle models are certified in a given model year is limited by the obligation to comply with the fleet average NOx standards associated with that model year. The current NOx standard is 0.07 grams/mile, which was introduced in the 2009 model year.

A company’s fleet average NOx value is the weighted average based on the number of vehicles certified to each bin. Though the emission bins, fleet average NOx standards, and methods of calculating fleet average NOx values are aligned with those of the U.S. EPA, there are differences in the structure of the NOx averaging program in Canada, which is designed to recognize vehicles that are sold concurrently in Canada and the U.S. The regulatory requirements are structured to deliver fleet average emissions comparable to those of the U.S. while minimizing the regulatory burden on companies and enabling the marketing of vehicles in Canada independently from the U.S.

The Regulations require that all companies submit a report to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change no later than May 1 after the end of each model year. The end of model year report must contain detailed information concerning the company’s fleet(s) and/or groups of vehicles.

For more information regarding the calculation of fleet average NOx values and NOx emission credits or deficits, please refer to the Regulations, which can be found on the Environment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry. Reports for the 2004 to the 2013 model years can also be found on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry.

4. Company fleet average NOx emission performance for the 2014 model year

4.1 Scope of company reports

Table 1 presents a list of the companies that submitted an end of model year report for the 2014 model year in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations, including the vehicle makes and a summary of the data received.

 

A total of 21 companies submitted a report for the 2014 model year covering a total of 329 distinct test groups. It should be noted that certain test groups were common between companies that shared vehicle platforms or powertrains.

The company average NOx values ranged from 0.0379229 grams/mile to 0.070000 grams/mile for the fleet of LDVs, LLDTs, HLDTs, and MDPVs, and no companies reported a fleet average NOx value that was above the standard of 0.07 grams/mile.

A total of 18,828 credits were generated by companies for the 2014 model year. No company incurred a deficit with respect to their fleet, and no company reported a deficit at the end of this model year. In addition, there were no credit transfers to or from companies for the 2014 model year.

4.2 Distribution of bins and total Canada NOx fleet average value

Table 2 summarizes the distribution of vehicles by the NOx standard of each bin. It also provides the calculated fleet average NOx value of the entire Canadian fleet for the 2014 model year.

Note: Beginning in the 2009 model year, applicable standards are limited to bins 1 to 8 for all categories.

For the 2014 model year, almost all vehicles (99.9% of the fleet) were certified to a bin at or below the fleet average NOx standard of 0.07 grams/mile. The average NOx value for the Canadian fleet was 0.05907711 grams/mile.

4.3 Fleet average NOx values trend

Figure 1 presents the average NOx values trend relative to the applicable standards since 2004 for both the LDV/LLDT and HLDT/MDPV fleets. Beginning in 2009, LDVs, LLDTs, HLDTs, and MDPVs all conform to one NOx fleet average standard.

Overall, the fleet average NOx value for the combined fleet of LDVs, LLDTs, HLDTs, and MDPVs decreased from 2004 to 2014. More specifically, the fleet average NOx value for the 2014 model year continues to decrease and is 15.6% below the standard of 0.07 grams/mile.

5. Conclusions

This is the eleventh year that companies were subject to the fleet average NOx requirements under the Regulations. A total of 21 companies submitted reports for a total of 329 distinct test groups comprising 1,724,084 vehicles that were either manufactured in Canada or imported into Canada for the purpose of first retail sale.

The average NOx value for the Canadian 2014 model year combined fleet of LDVs, LLDTs, HLDTs and MDPVs is 0.05907711 grams/mile compared to the standard of 0.07 grams/mile. Each individual company had a fleet average NOx value that was at or below the standard, and all companies complied with the fleet averaging provisions of the Regulations based on their reports.

The average NOx value continued to decrease for the 2014 model year. This result is consistent with the environmental performance objectives of the Regulations.

Cat. No.: En81-10E-PDF
ISSN: 1927-2456

Photos: © Environment and Climate Change Canada

©   Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 2016