California Air Resources Board

The Heavy-Duty Greenhouse Gas Certification Program is responsible for the certification of heavy-duty vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) greater than 10,000 pounds subject to greenhouse gas (GHG) requirements contained in Sections 95660-95664, Title 17, California Code of Regulations (17 CCR).   Incomplete medium-duty vehicles (10,001-14,000 lbs.) certified for criteria pollutants using the heavy-duty engine test procedures and electrified off-road equipment that is self-propelled with a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds and having a top speed greater than 55 mph are also subject to these heavy-duty regulations, though alternate compliance options exist.

Also, the HD GHG section certifies Battery-Electric and Fuel-Cell vehicles with GVWR greater than 14,000 pounds. Other complete On-Road Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) with GVWR less than or equal to 14,000 pounds are certified by the "On-Road Light-Duty Certification Program".

However, engines installed on vehicles with GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds and subject to the applicable emissions standards and other requirements contained in the California regulations and test procedures for heavy-duty engines and vehicles are certified by the "On-Road Heavy-Duty Certification Program".

Tractor and vocational vehicle manufacturers meeting the small business manufacturer (SBM) requirements specified in 40 CFR 1037.150(c) are not subject to the greenhouse gas standards of 40C FR 1037.105 and 40 CFR 1037.106 for vehicles with a date of manufacture before January 1. 2022. In addition, if the vehicles run on any fuel other than gasoline, E85, or diesel fuel, they may delay complying with the standards by one model year.  Prior to introducing the excluded vehicles into commerce for each model year, qualifying manufacturers must submit a letter to their respective CARB certification staff, a description of the manufacturer's qualification as a small business under 13 CFR 121.201 and a label sample that meets the requirements specified in 40 1037.150(c). If an SBM chooses to certify for 2021MY, in general, the application must meet all the requirements that are applicable to non-SBM for 2021MY.