Climate Change: Clean Car standards for Greenhouse Gases

“Today’s action by the Obama Administration is a huge win for Washington state in the fight against climate change. Vehicles are a major source of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions. By having these ‘clean car’ standards for greenhouse gases, we will make significant steps toward meeting our state’s reduction targets. And by 2020 we’ll eliminate pollution in an amount equivalent to removing 1 million cars from our roads and highways.

“I applaud President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for taking this much-needed action. We’ve known for years that new standards were needed – that’s why I championed adoption of ‘clean car’ standards for our state’s residents in 2005. Now, thanks to new leadership in Washington, D.C., we finally have it. EPA’s decision allows our state to implement our standards for new vehicles.

“Washingtonians will enjoy cleaner air, and we have a new tool as we work to control the causes of climate change.”

How Cars are Tested

Step1:



In the laboratory, the vehicle's drive wheels are placed on a machine called a dynamometer that simulates the driving environment—much like an exercise bike simulates cycling.

The energy required to move the rollers can be adjusted to account for wind resistance and the vehicle's weight.

Step2:



On the dynamometer, a professional driver runs the vehicle through a standardized driving routine, or schedule, which simulates “typical” trips in the city or on the highway.

Step3:




Each schedule specifies the speed the vehicle must travel during each second in the test.

Right: The driver watches a computerized display that shows his driving statistics compared to the specified schedule.

Step4:



A hose is connected to the tailpipe to collect the engine exhaust.

The carbon in the exhaust is measured to calculate the amount of fuel burned during the test.

This is more accurate than using a fuel gauge.