The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has streamlined the process for approving fuel conversion systems. The conversion systems allow light- and heavy-duty vehicles to run on alternative fuels (natural gas, propane, alcohol, electricity, etc.) while complying with Clean Air Act emissions standards. The EPA has established a three-tiered compliance process based on the age of the vehicle.

Under the old one-size-fits-all approach, the vehicle and engine conversion system must be covered by a certificate of conformity demonstrating emissions compliance. Under the new system, a certificate is only required for newer vehicles (less than two years old). Conversion system manufacturers need to perform certification tests to demonstrate the vehicle complies with exhaust and evaporative emissions standards as well as with on-board diagnostic requirements, but manufacturers may then apply a single set of test data to more vehicle and engine conversions than is currently allowed. 

To certify alternative-fuel conversions for intermediate-aged engines (more than two years old but still within their useful life), manufacturers need to perform exhaust and evaporative emissions tests to demonstrate compliance with EPA standards and then forward that test data to the EPA with a statement that the OBD system will continue to operate properly after the conversion. For vehicles that have outlived their useful life, the EPA conversion manufacturers must submit a detailed description of the conversion technology to demonstrate that it is well engineered and should work. Manufacturers must also submit an OBD diagnostic scan tool report to show that the OBD system continues to operate properly. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org. 

Legislation to increase the age requirement for vehicles eligible for registration as “antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles” was passed by the Connecticut Joint Committee on Planning and Development. The bill was amended in Committee to increase the age requirement for registration as an antique to 30 years old and increase the tax assessment amount on vehicles registered as antiques to $2,500. Currently, vehicles 20 years old or older are eligible for antique status. Antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles are currently assessed at a rate of $500, and owners pay personal property taxes on that amount. The bill will next be considered by the full House of Representatives. Among other things, the bill makes it more expensive to register legitimate collector vehicles and will require antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles that no longer qualify for special plates to have them replaced with standard plates and taxed using the same calculations used to assess taxes on regular, daily-driver vehicles. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation to increase the age requirement for vehicles eligible for registration as “antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles” was passed by the Connecticut Joint Committee on Planning and Development. The bill was amended in Committee to increase the age requirement for registration as an antique to 30 years old and increase the tax assessment amount on vehicles registered as antiques to $2,500. Currently, vehicles 20 years old or older are eligible for antique status. Antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles are currently assessed at a rate of $500, and owners pay personal property taxes on that amount. The bill will next be considered by the full House of Representatives. Among other things, the bill makes it more expensive to register legitimate collector vehicles and will require antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles that no longer qualify for special plates to have them replaced with standard plates and taxed using the same calculations used to assess taxes on regular, daily-driver vehicles. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-opposed legislation that would have allowed cities to remove an inoperable vehicle from private property if the vehicle was deemed a “nuisance” under a local ordinance was defeated on a 14–14 vote in the full Arkansas Senate. The bill needed 18 votes to pass. Opposition to the bill was led by State Senator Johnny Key, a member of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Among other things, the measure provided no reasonable safeguards for legitimate automotive hobbyists to work on inoperable collector vehicles on private property, even those located out of public view. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-opposed legislation that would have allowed cities to remove an inoperable vehicle from private property if the vehicle was deemed a “nuisance” under a local ordinance was defeated on a 14–14 vote in the full Arkansas Senate. The bill needed 18 votes to pass. Opposition to the bill was led by State Senator Johnny Key, a member of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Among other things, the measure provided no reasonable safeguards for legitimate automotive hobbyists to work on inoperable collector vehicles on private property, even those located out of public view. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

In the last step of the legislative process, SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles has been sent to Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire for her signature and enactment into law. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 30 years old and manufactured after 1948. Kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

In the last step of the legislative process, SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles has been sent to Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire for her signature and enactment into law. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 30 years old and manufactured after 1948. Kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Having passed the House Environment and Rules Committees, legislation to exempt all vehicles more than 25 years old from the state’s mandatory biennial emissions-inspection program will now be considered by the full Arizona House of Representatives. The bill was already passed by the Arizona Senate. Existing law in Arizona only exempts pre-’67 model-year vehicles and those vehicles designated as “collectible.” For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Having passed the House Environment and Rules Committees, legislation to exempt all vehicles more than 25 years old from the state’s mandatory biennial emissions-inspection program will now be considered by the full Arizona House of Representatives. The bill was already passed by the Arizona Senate. Existing law in Arizona only exempts pre-’67 model-year vehicles and those vehicles designated as “collectible.” For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

 

	Andy Barbieri, vice president of business development at Truckmaster, signed up several distributors at the first Beijing-based SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference last fall. He is one of a growing number of U.S. companies already registered for the 2011 event where he hopes to sign up additional customers.

Sellers of accessories and performance products hailing from every corner of the Chinese mainland who have registered for the upcoming SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference—taking place September 7–10, 2011, in Beijing—have identified the products they wish to source from American manufacturers on their growing wish list. They include: suspension upgrades, exhaust systems, bull bars and other products for off-road enthusiasts, U.S.-brand wheels and more generally “performance and engine upgrades.”

This intensive, low-cost familiarization and sales program is the largest annual China-based gathering of American and Chinese specialty-equipment companies. The Chinese street-tuning and off-road modification shops show the diversity already available in China. As Chinese consumers become more brand aware when making purchase decisions, increasingly, they find that they can afford to buy.

 The quality and aspirational value of imported products made by well-known international brands resonates with consumers in both street and off-road circles. When these products are available, they sell well. 



More information on this turn-key set of networking one-on-one meetings with pre-vetted Chinese buyers, as well as networking events and VIP admittance to the China International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE), is available at www.sema.org/china or by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.