U.S. EPA allows tier 2, Bin 9/10 diesels to opt-out from 'intermediate life'

Diesel Fuel News, Dec 9, 2002

The rule revision allows light-duty diesels in 2004-2006 to comply with "full useful life" NOx emissions limits on both Federal Test Procedure (FTP) and the supplemental FTP during the short duration of Bin 9/10 limits. "This change will likely result in the introduction of cleaner diesels than otherwise would be the case (during the Bin 9/10 interim) and furthermore we view the possibility of diesels being able to certify to the Bin 9 standards as a great success story for clean-diesels that will facilitate the transition of diesel vehicles to successfully meeting the Tier 2 standards," EPA said in its December 6 Federal Register notice.

But for automakers, this isn't all that big a break since they lose money on every Bin 9/10 diesel sold. Reason: EPA forces offsetting sales of ultra-clean, money-losing Bin 1/2 small cars for each Bin 9/10 car.