Roush CleanTech receives engine certification from EPA, CARB

Roush CleanTech received heavy duty-onboard diagnostics (HD-OBD) certification for all of its engines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Until the 2018 model year, alternative fuel vehicles were exempt from this certification, but are now held to the same requirements as gasoline vehicles, the company says.

“Vehicles powered by a fuel other than gasoline or diesel should no longer be considered alternative,” says Todd Mouw, president of Roush CleanTech. “As shown by the regulatory agencies decisions to require all fuels in its HD-OBD certification, propane autogas and others like compressed natural gas are moving into the mainstream.”

According to Roush, this HD-OBD certification applies to all vehicles over 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating. The onboard monitors will now track and report out the continuing compliance of the emissions performance of the vehicle, as they have since 2016 for gasoline vehicles.

Passenger cars and light-duty vehicles have come equipped with onboard diagnostic systems since the 1990s.

All of the company’s propane autogas-fueled vehicles with Ford 6.8-L 2V and 3V engines, including medium-duty fleet vehicles and school buses, are covered under the CARB HD-OBD certification, the company adds.

“We continue to invest in innovative technology and the customer experience,” Mouw says. “Our customers deserve the best alternative-energy solutions we can bring to allow them to meet their economic and environmental sustainability goals.”