CA strikes again with CARB ACT

[Kevin D Pem]

A local shop owner is currently being charged with a felony for selling and installing DEF deletion kits. He was offered to pay a $150k fine and accept a felony conviction. He has not accepted and last week was advised to not accept any deals by his counsel and to request a trial.

This echoes many others on the forums that are taking similar actions all on the belief that the laws will be changed or left unenforced.

I know for the local guy this is keeping him up at night and very stressful.

Personally I don’t have any deletes but would love to do them if there wasn’t a federal law that was being broken. I hope the law is repealed or invalidated vs just left unenforced.

Invalidated is the preference. This requires taking it to court. That is all about the scotus reversal of the Chevron Deference.

I look forward to people standing against laws illegally passed against the constitution ( this being one of many).

 

[redbaron]

Invalidated is the preference. This requires taking it to court. That is all about the scotus reversal of the Chevron Deference.

I look forward to people standing against laws illegally passed against the constitution ( this being one of many).

I agree, but the legal costs for the first such motion will be significant.

 

[J&JD]

As someone who has had to replace two DEF heads, one of which left us stranded and towed 120 miles to the nearest Freightliner dealer, I think the DEF system we now are saddled with is a ridiculous bunch of crap. That being said, doing away with the system entirely, or bypassing it, doesn’t make sense ecologically. You can’t tell me that our vast engineering capabilities are not able to come up with virtually 100% reliable sensors for this relatively simple system.
If you’re going to require the system to work, and then derate the unit to 5mph if it doesn’t, you best make the system virtually foolproof.

 

[turbopilot]

Great news. The US House is considering legislation to rescind the Clean Air Act waivers that allow California to preempt federal car and truck emissions standards. That would mean CARB in California goes out of business and we reset to Federal standards. This is a big deal if it happens.

The politics are looking good. Word is that democratic representatives in automotive dense districts will vote for the bill since this will stimulate new car sales even more important with the new tariffs.

The downside. All used cars and truck hobbled by the strict CARB standards will plunge in price because new cars and trucks will run so efficiently without overly burdensome pollution control equipment.

 

[Joe Dutchstar]

Trump Signs CA Emissions Bill

President Donald Trump signed a congressional resolution on June 12, 2025, blocking California’s vehicle emissions rules, including its first-in-the-nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. This resolution was approved by Congress last month and aims to overturn California’s aggressive attempt to phase out gas-powered vehicles. Additionally, Trump signed two other measures that block California’s policies to curb tailpipe emissions in certain vehicles and smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution from trucks

The resolutions were passed under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which Republicans used to revoke California’s Clean Air Act waivers. These waivers, granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Biden administration, allowed California to enforce stricter emissions standards than the federal government. The Senate voted 51-44 to advance the motion to revoke the waiver, despite objections from the nonpartisan Senate parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office, which ruled that the CRA does not apply to state-level waivers

California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, have condemned the move as illegal and plan to challenge it in court. They argue that the CRA does not authorize Congress to revoke EPA waivers for state-level emissions standards and that California’s rules are essential for improving air quality and combating climate change. Newsom has also directed the California Air Resources Board to explore new ways to encourage electric vehicle use and reduce emissions

The signing of these resolutions marks a significant shift in federal environmental policy, aligning with Trump’s agenda to promote fossil fuel production and roll back climate regulations. It also reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration and California, which have extended to issues such as immigration enforcement and LGBTQ+ rights

Automakers and industry groups, including General Motors and the American Trucking Associations, have supported the federal government’s move, arguing that a single national emissions standard would be more feasible for the industry. Environmental advocates, however, have criticized the decision, calling it a setback for public health and climate action

 

[turbopilot]

And elections do matter. What a turn about.

 

[redbaron]

It took a while for the attorneys to feel comfortable with the withdrawal of the laws that allowed the STUPID CARB rules to be put into place. This is just the beginning of changes. I am working with a team that is going to be bringing about full DEF deletes with FACTORY WARRANTY support for RAM TRUCK, CHEVY TRUCK, and FORD TRUCK.

This is only the beginning. Soon Cummins is going to be offering direct DEF DELETE options for ALL engines, although this will initially be a targeted offering to its largest fleets and emergency vehicles. Recreational RV's that are outside of a manufacturer's warranty can use 3rd parties to do the DEF delete.

I use caution on jumping on the DEF delete bandwagon too soon, as there are several alternatives to doing the delete. The preferred method will be a complete removal of all dosing and after treatment systems, but that may not be the approved way to do it.

I expect that once the shops open with national advertising for factory backed support, things will start happening very fast.

I would expect that soon new production will have an option to delete the DEF on new orders for 1 Ton and below trucks.

And elections do matter. What a turn about.

View attachment 29187

 

[CaptainGizmo]

That's amazing to see move forward!

One thing that made my stomach tie in knots was when I found out that the new generators weren't tier compliant and needed a DEF system. On a Newell, that compartment is completely sealed and relies upon external cooling/ventilation. A fire suppression system is paramount...and guess what happened when that system got too close to the DEF's boilermaker?? YUP...NOT GOOD.

And, for fire apparatus? Don't even get me started!

So, to see this CARB insanity get stuffed back into the hole it came from is a welcome sight!

 

[Jim]

I would expect that soon new production will have an option to delete the DEF on new orders for 1 Ton and below trucks.

Unless you're in the DEF business, which I am not, this is wonderful news!

 

[redbaron]

It took a while for the attorneys to feel comfortable with the withdrawal of the laws that allowed the STUPID CARB rules to be put into place. This is just the beginning of changes. I am working with a team that is going to be bringing about full DEF deletes with FACTORY WARRANTY support for RAM TRUCK, CHEVY TRUCK, and FORD TRUCK.

This is only the beginning. Soon Cummins is going to be offering direct DEF DELETE options for ALL engines, although this will initially be a targeted offering to its largest fleets and emergency vehicles. Recreational RV's that are outside of a manufacturer's warranty can use 3rd parties to do the DEF delete.

I use caution on jumping on the DEF delete bandwagon too soon, as there are several alternatives to doing the delete. The preferred method will be a complete removal of all dosing and after treatment systems, but that may not be the approved way to do it.

I expect that once the shops open with national advertising for factory backed support, things will start happening very fast.

I would expect that soon new production will have an option to delete the DEF on new orders for 1 Ton and below trucks.

Looks like the information I posted earlier is finally public. Fully supported by EPA. Expect retail options in 90-120 days, with DIY much sooner.


Thread 'DEF Systems Can Now Be Disabled if they Fail'
DEF Systems Can Now Be Disabled if they Fail

 

[Raydawg]

Just saw this..... not sure if its still an issue now that it seems some sanity is starting to return back to civilization.... but in the mean time could you just say your motorhome identifies as an electric car?

 

[Rich W.]

And elections do matter. What a turn about.

View attachment 29187

I approve of this message!

 

[newmarokie]

I am going to ask some questions out of pure ignorance for the forums consideration:
Is the LA basin mostly unique with their smog issues? I have seen pictures from the seventies with the brown haze hanging over that area.
I certainly seems to me it is a function of topography/geography interaction with weather patterns.
Do they have/had the same issues in San Fran or Seattle?
Are other parts of the US known for having smog issues? I know the DFW area in Texas has smog alerts from time to time during the heat of the summer when the wind dies out.
I guess where I am trying to go with these questions is, are all of us as US citizens having to pay the price to help the LA basin stay clear?

 

[Rich W.]

I am going to ask some questions out of pure ignorance for the forums consideration:
Is the LA basin mostly unique with their smog issues? I have seen pictures from the seventies with the brown haze hanging over that area.
I certainly seems to me it is a function of topography/geography interaction with weather patterns.
Do they have/had the same issues in San Fran or Seattle?
Are other parts of the US known for having smog issues? I know the DFW area in Texas has smog alerts from time to time during the heat of the summer when the wind dies out.
I guess where I am trying to go with these questions is, are all of us as US citizens having to pay the price to help the LA basin stay clear?

I haven’t read the actual proposal, but my understanding is that it’s geared only toward continuing to allow diesel engines to be sold in new vehicles in Ca. It is not aimed at removing the after treatment system, so there will really be no impact on air quality. Modern emissions diesel systems are so effective that the only things coming out of the tail pipe are nitrogen and water. This restriction was never about air quality - it was about eliminating internal combustion engine powered vehicles for other reasons.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I am going to ask some questions out of pure ignorance for the forums consideration:
Is the LA basin mostly unique with their smog issues? I have seen pictures from the seventies with the brown haze hanging over that area.
I certainly seems to me it is a function of topography/geography interaction with weather patterns.
Do they have/had the same issues in San Fran or Seattle?
Are other parts of the US known for having smog issues? I know the DFW area in Texas has smog alerts from time to time during the heat of the summer when the wind dies out.
I guess where I am trying to go with these questions is, are all of us as US citizens having to pay the price to help the LA basin stay clear?

First thing to consider, well the only thing to consider, Is! How do our activities effect the world environment. For example! PG&E can build a generation plant just outside of Bullhead AZ, and avoid regulatory problems. However that doesn't reduce pollution/poisoning our collective environment. What it does is hide what is being done by thinning the vail so to speak.

Even if you don't live in LA the problem is yours. The same way shifting manufacturing to places like China, or other places that don't have the same controls, only serve to produce more environmental issues, even if your personal space seems more palatable.

No this is a problem that is collectively shared, and all should be willing to share in the cost to fix it.