Better Roads Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85911
(See the chart below.) But, not all en- gines from all manufacturers have to hit these goals. Engine manufacturers that did a good job meeting or exceeding emissions tar- gets for earlier tiers of engines received credits, sometimes called fl ex credits, from the EPA that enabled them to delay implementation of their Tier 4 Interim and Tier 4 Final engines. Manufacturers that have banked credits may decide to use them now and skip having to put Tier 4 Interim engines in a certain category of machine for the time being. That way, they don't have to spend the money to produce a Tier 4 Interim engine in a machine this year and have to redesign it two years later for a Tier 4 Final engine. But alterna- tively, a manufacturer may opt to put out machines with Tier 4 Interim engines ahead of schedule, bank credits for these and then use up its credits by delaying implementation of its Tier 4 Final equip- ment for a few extra years. Complex but fair "The EPA's average banking and trading program for engine emission credits is one of the most complex federal regula- tions ever in terms of implementation," says Kevin Kokrda, executive vice presi- dent, Engine Manufacturers Association. There are people in the engine and OEM world who have based substantial por- tions of their careers calculating all the permutations of these credits, he says. Despite the complexity, the fl ex credit system works out to everybody's advan- tage, especially given the huge variety of off-road engines. "It gives manufactur- ers a smooth way to transition into the engine changes so they don't have to do everything on January 1," Kokrda, says. "That would be a big burden from a manufacturing standpoint." The fl ex credit system achieves the goals the EPA wants, reducing diesel exhaust emissions by a certain amount by a certain date, while still giving manufacturers options on how to meet those goals. "Everybody is getting cleaner," Kokrda says. "There are no laggards. There are incentives built into the program for manufacturers to use the credits in a timely manner, but they can still do what makes sense for their customers and product lines. The federal government was astute in writing these fl exibility programs early on." What's under the hood? For now, equipment OEMs are being tight-lipped about their plans for using these credits. You can fi nd out, but you may have to ask. Some machines will have the new emissions technology, and some won't. Some will be tweaked, and some will undergo complete redesigns. By virtue of the fl ex credit system, OEMs can truthfully say that a certain machine or engine meets the Tier 4 Interim or Tier 4 Final standard, even if it hasn't changed at all from a previous tier. To fi nd out, ask these two questions of your OEM or dealer regarding their emissions technology: • What emissions reduction technology is built into the engine on this ma- chine? TIER 4 INTERIM AND FINAL DATES Engine hp <25 25 < 75 75 < 175 175 < 750 Generators > 750 All others > 750 2008 2012 2014 2014 2015 2015 Tier 4 Interim Tier 4 Final 2008 2008 2012 2011 2011 2011 • What impact will this technology have on price, performance and mainte- nance? Tips for maintenance Equipment World has written about this tech- nology and its impact on performance and mainte- nance in previous issues. Better Roads March 2012 27b