Clean Fuel Fleet Program Requires Purchase of Low Emission Vehicles

The Clean Fuel Fleet Program was initiated by Congress as part of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The CFFP requires fleets in certain cities with poor air quality to purchase vehicles that will meet low emissions standards.

Federal, state, municipal, fuel provider and private fleets are mandated by the CFFP. Fleets that own, operate, lease or control at least 10 light-duty vehicles (8,500 lbs. or less) or heavy-duty vehicles (8,500 - 26,000 lbs.) are covered. Of the fleet vehicles, 10 or more must be operating in a metropolitan statistical area with a population of at least 250,000 people and have been classified as extreme, severe or serious non-attainment for ozone or carbon monoxide.

States have the option of adopting the CFFP or substituting a program that achieves equivalent emission reductions.

The CAAA defines a clean fuel as any power source on which a vehicle is certified to meet federal Clean Fuel Vehicle emissions standards. Clean fuels include alternative fuels, oxygenated fuels, reformulated gasoline, and conventional gasoline and diesel.

A CFV is a vehicle that is certified to low emission vehicle (LEV) standards or better, and operates on the fuel to which the vehicle was certified as a LEV.

For more information, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Fuel Fleets Web site.

Published: March 31, 2003