The California Air Resources Board adopted a new emissions tracking program that will help regulators identify vehicles with excess smog-related and greenhouse gas emissions. Real Emissions Assessment Logging (REAL) is part of the amendments to the OBD (On-board Diagnostic) Regulations approved by the Board at Thursday’s hearing. OBD systems mainly consist of software designed into a vehicle’s on-board computer to detect emission control system malfunctions as they occur by monitoring virtually every component that can cause increased emissions. When the OBD system detects a malfunction, it alerts the driver by illuminating an indicator light on the instrument panel, and stores information that helps identify the faulty equipment, enabling technicians to fix the problem. While the OBD system currently notifies drivers when emissions components are malfunctioning, the REAL program would require the OBD system to do more than that. It would require OBD systems to collect and store emissions data from NOx on medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles in-use starting in the 2022 model year. It would also require OBD systems to collect and store fuel consumption data that would be used to characterize CO2 emissions on all heavy-duty vehicles in-use. Storage of similar data for greenhouse gas emissions is already required on light-duty and medium-duty vehicles starting in model year 2019. The REAL data will be retrieved from the vehicle by plugging a scan tool or data reader into the vehicle. Currently, to get a snapshot of how vehicles are performing in terms of emissions, CARB either brings them to laboratories for testing or equips a handful of vehicles with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) equipment to find high emitters on the road. REAL will provide the ability to monitor all vehicles for emissions performance, and allow us to spot trouble faster. The REAL program is yet another way to utilize the OBD system and help ensure that engines and vehicles maintain low emissions throughout their full lives. —CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey The REAL program will require no new technology since it will take advantage of existing sensors to track the necessary data. Older vehicles will not be part of the REAL program and will not require any new equipment. CARB staff estimates the new OBD elements will add $42 per engine, for an industry-wide cost of an additional $21.2 million.
A scheme to track medium- and heavy-duty vehicle emissions has been approved for adoption by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Real emissions assessment logging (REAL) is an amendment to the On-board Diagnostic Regulations (OBD), which comprise software added to an on-board computer that detects emission control system malfunctions, alerts the driver, and stores information about the problem. REAL requires OBD systems to gather and store emissions data from nitrogen oxide on medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles in-use from the 2022 model year, and to collate fuel consumption data in order to monitor CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.