Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: Nov 20, 2024
§ 86.449 - Averaging provisions.

(a) This section describes how and when averaging may be used to show compliance with applicable HC + NOX emission standards. Emission credits may not be banked for use in later model years, except as specified in paragraph (j) of this section.

(1) Compliance with the Class I and Class II HC + NOX standards set forth in § 86.410-2006 (f) may be demonstrated using the averaging provisions of this section. To do this you must show that your average emission levels are at or below the applicable standards in § 86.410-2006.

(2) Compliance with the Class III HC + NOX standards set forth in § 86.410-2006 (a)(2) may be demonstrated using the averaging provisions of this section. To do this you must show that your average emission levels are at or below the applicable standards in § 86.410-2006.

(3) Family emission limits (FELs) may not exceed the following caps:

Class Tier Model year FEL cap
(g/km)
HC + NOX
Class I or IITier 12006 and later5.0
Class IIITier 12006-20095.0
Tier 22010 and later2.5

(b) Do not include any exported vehicles in the certification averaging program. Include only motorcycles certified under this subpart and intended for sale in the United States.

(c) To use the averaging program, do the following things:

(1) Certify each vehicle to a family emission limit.

(2) Calculate a preliminary average emission level according to paragraph (d) of this section using projected production volumes for your application for certification.

(3) After the end of your model year, calculate a final average emission level according to paragraph (d) of this section for each averaging set for which you manufacture or import motorcycles.

(d) Calculate your average emission level for each averaging set for each model year according to the following equation and round it to the nearest tenth of a g/km. Use consistent units throughout the calculation. The averaging sets are defined in paragraph (k) of this section.

(1) Calculate the average emission level as:

Where: FELi = The FEL to which the engine family is certified. ULi = The useful life of the engine family. Productioni = The number of vehicles in the engine family.

(2) Use production projections for initial certification, and actual production volumes to determine compliance at the end of the model year.

(e)(1) Maintain and keep five types of properly organized and indexed records for each group and for each emission family:

(i) Model year and EPA emission family.

(ii) FEL.

(iii) Useful life.

(iv) Projected production volume for the model year.

(v) Actual production volume for the model year.

(2) Keep paper records of this information for three years from the due date for the end-of-year report. You may use any additional storage formats or media if you like.

(3) Follow paragraphs (f) through (i) of this section to send us the information you must keep.

(4) We may ask you to keep or send other information necessary to implement this subpart.

(f) Include the following information in your application for certification:

(1) A statement that, to the best of your belief, you will not have a negative credit balance for any motorcycle when all credits are calculated. This means that if you believe that your average emission level will be above the standard (i.e., that you will have a deficit for the model year), you must have banked credits pursuant to paragraph (j) of this section to offset the deficit.

(2) Detailed calculations of projected emission credits (zero, positive, or negative) based on production projections. If you project a credit deficit, state the source of credits needed to offset the credit deficit.

(g) At the end of each model year, send an end-of-year report.

(1) Make sure your report includes the following things:

(i) Calculate in detail your average emission level and any emission credits based on actual production volumes.

(ii) If your average emission level is above the allowable average standard, state the source of credits needed to offset the credit deficit.

(2) Base your production volumes on the point of first retail sale. This point is called the final product-purchase location.

(3) Send end-of-year reports to the Designated Compliance Officer within 120 days of the end of the model year. If you send reports later, EPA may void your certificate ab initio.

(4) If you generate credits for banking pursuant to paragraph (j) of this section and you do not send your end-of-year reports within 120 days after the end of the model year, you may not use the credits until we receive and review your reports. You may not use projected credits pending our review.

(5) You may correct errors discovered in your end-of-year report, including errors in calculating credits according to the following table:

If . . . And if . . . Then we . . .
(i) Our review discovers an error in your end-of-year report that increases your credit balanceThe discovery occurs within 180 days of receiptRestore the credits for your use.
(ii) You discover an error in your report that increases your credit balanceThe discovery occurs within 180 days of receiptRestore the credits for your use.
(iii) We or you discover an error in your report that increases your credit balanceThe discovery occurs more than 180 days after receiptDo not restore the credits for your use.
(iv) We discover an error in your report that reduces your credit balanceAt any time after receiptReduce your credit balance.

(h) Include in each report a statement certifying the accuracy and authenticity of its contents.

(i) We may void a certificate of conformity for any emission family if you do not keep the records this section requires or give us the information when we ask for it.

(j) You may include Class III motorcycles that you certify with HC + NOX emissions below 0.8 g/km in the following optional early banking program:

(1) To include a Class III motorcycle in the early banking program, assign it an emission rate of 0.8 g/km when calculating your average emission level for compliance with the Tier 1 standards.

(2)(i) Calculate bankable credits from the following equation:

Bonus credit = Y × [(0.8 g/km − Certified emission level)] × [(Production volume of engine family) × (Useful life)]

(ii) The value of Y is defined by the model year and emission level, as shown in the following table:

Model year Multiplier (Y) for use in MY 2010 or later corporate averaging
If your certified emission level is less than 0.8 g/km, but greater than 0.4 g/km, then Y = . . . If your certified emission level is less than 0.4 g/km, then Y = . . .
2003 through 20061.5003.000
20071.3752.500
20081.2502.000
20091.1251.500

(3) Credits banked under this paragraph (j) may be use for compliance with any 2010 or later model year standards as follows:

(i) If your average emission level is above the average standard, calculate your credit deficit according to the following equation, rounding to the nearest tenth of a gram:

Deficit = (Emission Level − Average Standard) × (Total Annual Production) × (Useful Life)

(ii) Credit deficits may be offset using banked credits.

(k) Credits may not be exchanged across averaging sets except as explicitly allowed by this paragraph (k).

(1) There are two averaging sets:

(i) Class I and Class II motorcycles certified to HC + NOX standards.

(ii) Class III motorcycles.

(2) Where a manufacturer's average HC + NOX emission level for Class III motorcycles (as calculated under paragraph (d)(1) of this section) is below the applicable standard, the manufacturer may generate credits that may be used show compliance with HC + NOX standards for Class I and Class II motorcycles during the same model year. Use the following equations to calculate credits and credit deficits for each class or subclass:

Credit = (Average Standard − Emission Level) × (Total Annual Production) × (Useful Life) Deficit = (Emission Level − Average Standard) × (Total Annual Production) × (Useful Life)

(l) Manufacturers participating in the averaging program of this section may modify FELs during the model year as specified in this paragraph (l).

(1) Upon notifying EPA, manufacturers may raise the FEL for an engine family and begin labeling motorcycles with the new FEL.

(2) Manufacturers may ask to lower FELs based on test data of production vehicles showing that the motorcycles in the engine family have emissions below the new FEL. Manufacturers must test the motorcycles according to 40 CFR part 1051, subpart D. Manufacturers may not begin labeling motorcycles with the new FEL until they have received EPA approval to do so.

(3) Manufacturers may not change the FEL of any motorcycle that has been placed into service or that is no longer in their possession.

[69 FR 2439, Jan. 15, 2004]
cite as: 40 CFR 86.449