Trade Up to a Cleaner Ride

Vouchers will help more Texans reduce emissions with newer cars and trucks

Older vehicles are high emitters of pollution, which exacerbates ozone problems in many parts of the state. For that reason, the Drive a Clean Machine initiative was created to help owners of aging vehicles purchase a newer, cleaner car or truck. The TCEQ is overseeing the issuance of vouchers for eligible motorists in the areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin.

About 7 a.m., Sarah T. gets into her three-year-old car and begins the drive to work in downtown Dallas. She'll log 14 miles to the office. That is the average one-way driving distance for a Dallas commuter.

Next door, Tommy D. waves at Sarah as he backs out of the driveway in his 14-year-old sedan. He heads downtown, too, taking the same route as his neighbor.

Two typical commuters going to work? Yes, except that the amount of emissions each vehicle will expel is far different.

Sarah's newer car, which is equipped with the latest in emissions controls, will emit only 0.07 grams of nitrogen oxides (NOx) per mile, or just shy of 1 gram for the trip.

Tommy's car, on the other hand, was made before the adoption of recent pollution standards. His car belches 0.96 grams of NOx per mile, or more than 13 grams by the time he covers the same distance as Sarah.

The good news in this scenario is that technology has changed for the better, allowing today's cars and trucks to reach peak performance without releasing much pollution.

The not-so-good news is that older vehicles still populate urban streets and freeways, releasing large volumes of pollutants that contribute to ground-level ozone.

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Moving on Up

Under the AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine program, the TCEQ is offering to help some drivers replace their older, polluting vehicles.

As many as 1.9 million households in 16 counties could be in the running for vouchers to help replace their older car or truck. Individual vouchers are in the amounts of $3,000 or $3,500, depending on the type and age of the replacement vehicle.

"We are making a concerted effort to get older, heavy-polluting vehicles either repaired or removed from the road," said TCEQ Chairman Buddy Garcia.

"To that end, the Legislature approved $90 million this biennium. It is a significant expansion of our effort to reduce vehicle emissions in certain areas not complying with federal standards for ozone," he said.

To qualify for vouchers, motorists must have their vehicles registered in designated counties in the Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, or Austin areas, and fit the income eligibility scale.

For example, a family of four with an annual net income of $61,950 would be eligible to apply.

The vouchers will provide the following:

• $3,000 for a car, current model year or up to three model years old
• $3,000 for a truck, current model year or up to two model years old
• $3,500 for a hybrid vehicle, current or previous model year

The vehicle being purchased must weigh less than 10,000 pounds, be certified to meet cleaner emissions standards, and cost no more than $25,000. Visit www.driveacleanmachine.org to see a list of qualifying vehicles.

All of the vehicles being replaced will be scrapped to make sure they are no longer used.

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Repairs Still Important

The larger vouchers represent an expansion of the TCEQ's repair and replacement assistance program. Previously, the agency offered vouchers of $1,000 to help owners of older cars who wanted to upgrade to cleaner driving. Typically these were cars that could not pass the state emissions test.

But failing the emissions test is no longer a prerequisite for receiving a voucher. Now, owners of a car or truck that is 10 years or older may participate in the program, regardless of the vehicle's performance on the emissions test.

One component of the assistance program remains the same—financial help is available to repair vehicles that fail the emissions test. Motorists within certain income limits can receive up to $600 for repairs.

In certain counties, passing both the emissions and safety portions of the annual inspection is required for a state inspection sticker.

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Fleet Turnover

As newer cars and trucks reach the market and find buyers each year, the overall Texas fleet gets cleaner.

"What we're doing is trying to speed up the process by helping owners of older vehicles buy cars and trucks that are cleaner," said Program Coordinator Bob Wierzowiecki of the TCEQ.

"Not everyone can afford a new car. But driving a new car, or a qualifying used car, is better for air quality than driving a vehicle that's 10 years or older," he said.

Wierzowiecki explained that vehicle emission controls have steadily improved over the years.

A major milestone occurred with the 1996 models "when automobile manufacturers had to incorporate onboard diagnostics, which use the onboard computers to manage and monitor the operation of the engine, transmission, and emission controls. That's when emissions testing started becoming more high-tech," he said.

"Vehicles made in the last decade or so are better equipped to let drivers know when there's a problem. The 'check engine' light alerts the driver to get the car checked. People are more likely to get it repaired than to keep driving till the next state inspection."

Of the 7.5 million vehicles tested for emission levels in fiscal 2007, more than three-fourths were model 1996 or newer, said Wierzowiecki. The failure rate for all vehicles run through the inspections was less than 6 percent.

"Cars and trucks are a major contributor to air quality problems," he said. "As you get the newer ones on the road, obviously air quality has a chance to improve."

Thanks to technological advances, today's new vehicles can be up to 98 percent cleaner than those produced 10 years ago, he added.

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Overall Strategy

With the state-funded incentives provided under Drive a Clean Machine, 15,000 to 30,000 polluting vehicles could be permanently removed from Texas roads in the next two years, according to TCEQ estimates.

At the same time, more vehicles that are cleaner burning will take to the road each year. That is especially important in areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth where onroad mobile sources represent half or more of the entire emissions picture.

Meanwhile, repairing or replacing polluting vehicles is just one of several strategies in place to lower ozone levels.

The TCEQ has also instituted requirements for various motor fuels, as well as vapor controls at gasoline and refueling stations, and it offers rebates to help replace or retrofit heavy-duty vehicles and equipment (see www.terpgrants.org and www.texascleanschoolbus.org).

All of these programs make up various pieces of a statewide plan to reduce emissions from a host of sources.

In several areas of the state, the pollution from traffic on freeways and even neighborhood streets is one of the leading contributors to formation of ozone.

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Fleet Turnover Means Cleaner Engines

Each year, as consumers buy newer cars and trucks, more of them are driving vehicles with high-tech emission controls. Any vehicle that is model 1996 or newer will have the benefits of onboard diagnostics. Currently, 77 percent of the vehicles registered in the Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and El Paso areas are model 1996 or newer. This segment is expected to grow to 89 percent by 2010. These four regions all have annual emissions testing of vehicles.

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Testing Emission Levels in 17 Counties

The urban counties targeted for financial assistance for newer vehicles are most of the same counties in which motorists are required to submit to annual emission tests as part of their state inspections.

The exception is El Paso County, which has annual emissions testing as part of its air quality program, but does not participate in state assistance for repairs or replacements.

A total of 3,670 stations are certified by the state to administer the emission inspections.

The tests come in three forms: for vehicles model year 1995 or older, the accelerated simulation mode or the two-speed idle test (depending on geographical area of the state); for model year 1996 and newer, the onboard diagnostics test.

The overall passing rate is 94.2 percent. Vehicles that fail must be repaired and retested.

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No Smoking Allowed

Ever get stuck in traffic behind a vehicle that's putting out smelly exhaust fumes? Something can be done about the problem, besides rolling up the window.

Contact the TCEQ's Smoking Vehicle Program to report cars, trucks, or buses that emit excessive levels of exhaust.

What's excessive? Any time dirty exhaust pours from the tailpipe for more than 10 seconds, that is a significant contribution to air pollution.

Texas law enforcement agencies have the authority to issue citations, punishable by a fine up to $350, to anyone operating a smoking vehicle on a public highway.

The TCEQ does not investigate or take enforcement action, but it alerts the owner by mail that the vehicle was observed releasing dirty smoke from the exhaust. The agency will encourage the owner to follow proper maintenance and make any needed repairs.

More than 120,000 of these letters have been issued since 2003. Many recipients later reported that they had fixed their car or truck.

To report a smoking vehicle, visit www.smokingvehicle.org, or call 1-800-453-SMOG (7664). The anonymous report must be made within 30 days of the occurrence.

Be prepared to provide the Texas license plate number, date and time observed, city, and location.

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