California Signs Law Banning Sale of New Gas-Powered Small Engines by 2024

On October 9, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that will effectively ban the sale of gas-powered small off-road engines (SORE)— spark-ignited engines rated at or below 25 hp (19 kW)—many of which are used in lawn and garden equipment such as mowers, as well as logging equipment, commercial utility equipment and specialty vehicles.

The bill, AB1346, authored by Assemblyman Marc Berman, directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to ban the sale of new small off-road engines used in equipment which includes generators, lawn equipment, and other small off-road engine equipment. Regulations are to be in place by Jan. 1, 2024, or as soon as regulators determine what is “feasible,” whichever date is later.

According to the text of the bill, by July 1, 2022, the state board is to “adopt cost-effective and technologically feasible regulations to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines.” The state board will also be required to make funding available for commercial rebates or other similar funding to support the transition to zero-emissions options. Currently, the state budget includes $30 million to offer a rebate for people to transition from gas-powered equipment to zero-emission equipment.

The new bill is intended to be part of California’s strategy to reduce pollution. Supporters of the bill argue that small off-road engines create as much pollution in California as passenger vehicles. Per the text of the new bill, California currently exceeds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state standards for ozone in many parts of the state. The bill states that in 2020, daily oxides of nitrogen (NOx) levels emitted by SORE averaged 16.8 tons per day and 125 tons per day for reactive organic gases (ROG), both of which contribute to the formation of ozone.

Because regulations for SORE have not been as stringent as those for other engine types, the state felt it was time to evaluate smaller engines, as well. In addition, there are many

The sale of mowers and other equipment powered by small off-road engines will be regulated by 2024 in an effort to reduce emissions. by Ryan Whisner and Sara Jensen

The sale of new gas-powered small off-road engines will be banned in California by 2024.

zero-emission options, such as battery powered equipment, now available in the market. Read an extended version of this article at www.oemoffhighway. com/21772086. |

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Listen to our podcast interview with Joshua Israel, Market Development Manager, Horiba Automotive Test Systems, about how this new legislation will help drive further electrification in the off-highway equipment market at www.oemoffhighway.com/ 21551386.