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###### Environmental Protection Agency

          - [EPA-HQ- EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0597; FRL-12502-01-OAR]

# AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

# ACTION:

Notice.

# SUMMARY:

                        The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting comment on an application from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (“MMC”) 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                               ( print page 103825)                            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. MMC 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 received on or before January 21, 2025.

# ADDRESSES:

                        Submit your comments referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0597 online using                         *www.regulations.gov*                         (our preferred method), by email to                         *a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov*                         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:                         *wright.davida@epa.gov.*

# 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.                

                    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 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 CO 2                      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.                

## II. Off-Cycle Credit Application

### A. High Efficiency Air Conditioning Scroll Compressor

Using the alternative methodology approach described above, MMC is applying for off-cycle GHG credits for the use of a high efficiency air conditioning (A/C) scroll compressor. The MMC high efficiency A/C scroll compressor results in air conditioning efficiency credits beyond those provided in the regulations.

Scroll A/C compressors are some of the most efficient compressors used for mobile air conditioning applications. This technology has been used in most of the electrical A/C compressors in use today. MMC has adopted this technology which provides improved efficiency relative to fixed displacement and electronically variable displacement piston A/C compressors.

Scroll A/C compressors operate using a scroll that orbits around a fixed scroll. Fluid is compressed as it moves through the compressor and the volume between the scrolls is reduced. Utilizing the orbiting scroll for compression provides high volumetric efficiency due to reduced pressure losses compared to other compressor technologies.

                    MMC is applying for credits for the 2020 and later model years for vehicles                           ( print page 103826)                        sold in the U.S. and equipped with the high efficiency A/C scroll compressor. MMC is requesting a credit value of 1.1 grams/mile. As MMC notes in their application, technologies improving the efficiency of A/C systems are subject to credit caps as noted in 40 CFR 86.1868-12. The rationale for the credit cap is the additional fuel consumption of A/C systems can never be reduced to zero, and the limits established by regulation reflect the maximum possible reduction in fuel consumption projected by EPA. To ensure manufacturers do not generate A/C efficiency credits which would exceed the maximum possible reductions projected by EPA, EPA has applied the A/C menu credit caps to A/C efficiency credits manufacturers have received using the alternative method process. Therefore, the appropriate A/C efficiency menu caps will also apply to MMC for their high efficiency A/C scroll compressor credit value. 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.

Byron Bunker,

Director, Implementation, Analysis and Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

# Footnotes

1.                             See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(b).                    
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2.                             See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(c).                    
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3.                             See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(d).                    
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4.                             See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(d)(2).                    
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[FR Doc. 2024-30081 Filed 12-18-24; 8:45 am]

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