[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77509-77510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21713]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ- EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0345] [FRL-12128-01-OAR]


Alternative Methods for Calculating Off-Cycle Credits Under the 
Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Program: Application From 
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting 
comment on an application from Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC 
(``JLR'') for off-cycle carbon dioxide (CO2) credits under 
EPA's light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards. ``Off-
cycle'' emission reductions can be achieved by employing technologies 
that result in real-world benefits, but where that benefit is not 
adequately captured on the test procedures used by manufacturers to 
demonstrate compliance with emission standards. EPA's light-duty 
vehicle greenhouse gas program acknowledges these benefits by giving 
automobile manufacturers several options for generating ``off-cycle'' 
CO2 credits. Under the regulations, a manufacturer may apply 
for CO2 credits for off-cycle technologies that result in 
off-cycle benefits. In these cases, a manufacturer must provide EPA 
with a proposed methodology for determining the real-world off-cycle 
benefit. JLR submitted their application describing a methodology for 
determining off-cycle credits from the technology described in their 
application. Pursuant to applicable regulations, EPA is making this 
off-cycle credit calculation methodology available for public comment.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 23, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2024-0345 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected] or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Wright, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Implementation, 
Analysis and Compliance Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Telephone: (734) 214-4467. 
Email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    EPA's light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) program provides 
three pathways by which a manufacturer may accrue off-cycle carbon 
dioxide (CO2) credits for those technologies that achieve 
CO2 reductions in the real world but where those reductions 
are not adequately captured on the test used to determine compliance 
with the CO2 standards, and which are not otherwise 
reflected in the standards' stringency. The first pathway is a 
predetermined list of credit values for specific off-cycle technologies 
that may be used beginning in model year 2014.\1\ This pathway allows 
manufacturers to use conservative credit values established by EPA for 
a wide range of technologies, with minimal data submittal or testing 
requirements, if the technologies meet EPA regulatory definitions. In 
cases where the off-cycle technology is not on the menu but additional 
laboratory testing can demonstrate emission benefits, a second pathway 
allows manufacturers to use a broader array of emission tests (known as 
``5-cycle'' testing because the methodology uses five different testing 
procedures) to demonstrate and justify off-cycle CO2 
credits.\2\ The additional emission tests allow emission benefits to be 
demonstrated over some elements of real-world driving not adequately 
captured by the GHG compliance tests, including high speeds, hard 
accelerations, and cold temperatures. These first two methodologies 
were completely defined through notice and comment rulemaking and 
therefore no additional process is necessary for manufacturers to use 
these methods. The third and last pathway allows manufacturers to seek 
EPA approval to use an alternative methodology for determining the off-
cycle CO2 credits.\3\ This option is only available if the 
benefit of the technology cannot be adequately demonstrated using the 
5-cycle methodology. Manufacturers may also use this option to 
demonstrate reductions that exceed those available via use of the 
predetermined list.
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    \1\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(b).
    \2\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(c).
    \3\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(d).
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    Under the regulations, a manufacturer seeking to demonstrate off-
cycle credits with an alternative methodology (i.e., under the third 
pathway described above) must describe a methodology that meets the 
following criteria:
     Use modeling, on-road testing, on-road data collection, or 
other approved analytical or engineering methods;
     Be robust, verifiable, and capable of demonstrating the 
real-world emissions benefit with strong statistical significance;
     Result in a demonstration of baseline and controlled 
emissions over a wide range of driving conditions and number of 
vehicles such that issues of data uncertainty are minimized;
     Result in data on a model type basis unless the 
manufacturer demonstrates that another basis is appropriate and 
adequate.
    Further, the regulations specify the following requirements 
regarding an application for off-cycle CO2 credits:
     A manufacturer requesting off-cycle credits must develop a 
methodology for demonstrating and determining the benefit of the off-
cycle technology and carry out any necessary testing and analysis 
required to support that methodology.
     A manufacturer requesting off-cycle credits must conduct 
testing and/or prepare engineering analyses that demonstrate the in-use 
durability of the

[[Page 77510]]

technology for the full useful life of the vehicle.
     The application must contain a detailed description of the 
off-cycle technology and how it functions to reduce CO2 
emissions under conditions not represented on the compliance tests.
     The application must contain a list of the vehicle 
model(s) which will be equipped with the technology.
     The application must contain a detailed description of the 
test vehicles selected and an engineering analysis that supports the 
selection of those vehicles for testing.
     The application must contain all testing and/or simulation 
data required under the regulations, plus any other data the 
manufacturer has considered in the analysis.
    Finally, the alternative methodology must be approved by EPA prior 
to the manufacturer using it to generate credits. As part of the review 
process defined by regulation, the alternative methodology submitted to 
EPA for consideration must be made available for public comment.\4\ EPA 
will consider public comments as part of its final decision to approve 
or deny the request for off-cycle credits.
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    \4\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(d)(2).
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II. Off-Cycle Credit Application

A. 48 Volt Efficient Motor-Generator Combined With a 48 Volt/12 Volt 
DC/DC Converter

    JLR is applying for off-cycle GHG credits for the use of a 48 Volt 
efficient motor-generator combined with a 48 volt/12 volt DC/DC 
converter. The JLR technology consists of two components, a 48-volt 
motor-generator which is either belt driven or connected to the 
crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and a 48 volt/12 volt DC/
DC converter. The 48 volt motor generator provides a couple of 
functions, it can operate as a starter motor and crank the engine and 
it also can operate as a generator converting mechanical energy into 
electrical energy. The efficiency of the 48 volt generator when belt 
driven is in the range of 80 to 85% and when connected to the 
crankshaft of an engine it can be as high as 90 to 95%. Once generated 
the 48 volt electricity needs to be converted to 12 volts for use by 
the 12 volt electronics in the vehicle. The conversion of the 48 volt 
electricity to 12 volt is performed by the second device associated 
with this technology, a DC-DC converter. Converting 48 volt electricity 
to 12 volt electricity produces an energy loss which also needs to be 
measured to determine the overall efficiency of the combined 48 volt 
motor-generator and DC-DC converter. This application is only for 
determining the off-cycle benefit of the generator portion of the 
technology.
    JLR is the first manufacturer to submit a complete alternative 
method off-cycle GHG application for a 48 volt motor-generator combined 
with a 48 volt/12 volt DC-DC converter.
    JLR is applying for credits for the 2023 and later model years for 
vehicles sold in the U.S. and equipped with the 48 volt efficient 
motor-generator combined with a 48 volt/12 volt DC/DC converter. JLR is 
requesting a credit value of 1.6 grams/mile. Details of the testing and 
analysis can be found in the manufacturer's application.

III. EPA Decision Process

    EPA has reviewed the applications for completeness and is now 
making the applications available for public review and comment as 
required by the regulations. The off-cycle credit applications 
submitted by the manufacturers (with confidential business information 
redacted) have been placed in the public docket (see ADDRESSES section 
above) and on EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/ve-certification/compliance-information-light-duty-greenhouse-gas-ghg-standards.
    EPA is providing a 30-day comment period on this application for 
off-cycle credits described in this notice, as specified by the 
regulations. The manufacturer may submit a written rebuttal of comments 
for EPA's consideration or may revise an application in response to 
comments. After reviewing any public comments and any rebuttal of 
comments submitted by manufacturers, EPA will make a final decision 
regarding the credit request. EPA will make its decision available to 
the public by placing a decision document (or multiple decision 
documents) in the docket and on EPA's website at the same manufacturer-
specific pages shown above.

    Dated: September 18, 2024.
Byron Bunker,
Director, Implementation, Analysis and Compliance Division, Office of 
Transportation and Air Quality.
[FR Doc. 2024-21713 Filed 9-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P