Mobile Source Projects

EES staff has been involved in evaluating air quality impacts from mobile sources and developing and implementing mobile source emission reductions programs. 

The following presents examples of EES’s staff experience in evaluating mobile source impacts.  

Vehicle Repair Program

Clark County Vehicle Repair Services-Voluntary Vehicle Repair Pilot Program

EES staff worked with the Clark County Vehicle Repair Services - Voluntary Vehicle Repair Pilot Program.  The program involved 10 repair shops and a field office to assist in low-income repair assistance for about 1,200 vehicles.  EES staff determined the feasibility of providing financial assistance to qualified low-income motorists whose vehicles fail their required smog check inspection or are identified by remote sensing devices (RSDs); assisted the county in assessing the number of gross polluters, evaluated the feasibility, costs, and impacts of a long-term repair program; and provided information to the county to allow them to assess the duration of repairs performed on high-emitting vehicles.

Old Vehicle Cleanup Partnership

Santa Barbara Old Vehicle Early Retirement Program

EES staff developed and managed the implementation of the Old Vehicle Cleanup Partnership Program under a contract with the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD).  The goal of the program was to reduce air pollutant emissions caused by high polluting vehicles in the county.  EES staff developed a project implementation plan, monitored project cash flow, prepared project management plan, and participated in negotiating contract terms and conditions to reduce risk and increase profitability.  In addition, EES staff involved in facility site acquisition; construction management; and preparation of progress reports detailing the overall project performance, budget, and schedule status.  EES staff also coordinated public participation, developing program pamphlets, and conducting training workshops for participating businesses.  Under this program vehicles were inspected, tested, and screened for participation in the program.

Mobile Source Emission Reduction Credit Program

Bay Area AQMD

EES staff developed and implemented the Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Credit (MSERC) program for the Bay Area AQMD.  Pre-1982 vehicles that are known to emit excessive pollutants due to their age and lack of advanced emission controls were inspected and screened for participation in the program.  EES staff designed the program in conformance with the ARB regulations for voluntary accelerated light-duty vehicle retirement enterprises.  The program was designed to permanently remove high emitting vehicles from the road and to generate mobile source emissions reduction credits. 

Mobile Source Emission Reduction Credit Program

Santa Barbara APCD

EES staff developed and managed the early retirement program of pre-1985 vehicles that are known to emit excessive pollutants due to their age and lack of advanced emission controls.  EES inspected, tested, and screened vehicles for participation in the program.  EES staff designed the program conformance with the ARB regulations for voluntary accelerated light-duty vehicle retirement enterprises.  The program is designed to permanently remove high emitting vehicles from the road and to generate mobile source emissions reduction credits.   

Vehicle Emission Reduction Studies (VERS)

Bureau of Automotive Repair

EES engineers managed the Vehicle Emission Reduction Studies (VERS) program, a multimillion-dollar project, under a contract with the BAR.  EES engineers conducted emissions testing and research on vehicles identified as probable high emitters.  The program was a high profile project for its importance in developing future state policies concerning smog control and emissions reduction requirements.  EES staff developed a program implementation plan including budget and schedule, monitored program cash flow, and prepared project management plan.  ESS was also responsible for equipment and facility site acquisition, facility construction management, and equipment installation and calibration.  EES staff drafted procedures manual for technicians training in the operation of the VERS test center.  The VERS program was designed to (1) determine the emissions burden of high emitters; (2) determine the potential emissions reductions from purchasing and scraping high emitters; (3) evaluate the use of various sources or technologies for identifying high emitters (namely, referee station and repair shop referrals, and through a review of the smog check database); and (4) determine the cost effectiveness per ton of pollutant removed or reduced through various control options.  EES staff was involved in locating, screening, evaluating, and testing high emitting vehicles for the purchase and scrap study.  The study was designed to demonstrate the differences in emission reductions and the cost of reductions from purchasing vehicles after screening versus purchasing without screening.  Another research study EES engineers conducted under the VERS program was the catalytic converter testing and replacement study.  This 12-month study focused on estimating the emissions burden produced by vehicles with inefficient catalytic converters and evaluated the emissions reductions and cost effectiveness of replacing such inefficient catalysts.  Finally, EES investigated the emissions burden and excess emissions from issuing cost exceedance waivers under the current state smog check program.

Federal Test Procedure Testing Laboratory (FTP)

California Engineering Co.

 EES managed the certification process of out-of-state vehicles, including smog conversion and chassis dynamometer testing.  EES engineers supervised the conversion and the installation of emission control devices, tested vehicles in compliance with the EPA test procedure (FTP), and were responsible for system testing and instrument calibration.  EES also conducted research and development projects, studied and evaluated the performance of several vehicular emission control devices.  In addition, EES managed the construction and the installation of an automotive conversion and testing laboratory used for federal and California motor vehicle certification testing.