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.
In this story:
Moving on Up
Repairs Still Important
Fleet Turnover
Overall Strategy
Sidebar: Fleet Turnover Means Cleaner
Engines
Sidebar: Testing Emission Levels in 17
Counties
Sidebar: No Smoking Allowed
Sidebar: More Information at
driveacleanmachine.org
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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Want to find out further details about the voucher program? The
TCEQ spells out all the qualifying information that motorists need
to participate. This includes net income qualifications and the
participating counties.
Other vital information includes:
- a list of the cars and trucks the voucher can be applied
to
- the names and locations of participating auto dealers
- requirements for the older vehicles to be eligible for
retirement
Also, the Drive a Clean Machine program will issue e-mail
updates as new information becomes available. Sign up at the Web
site for these online alerts. To contact the program, call (toll
free) 800-913-3321.
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