Diesel Fuel Comparison Study

This page last reviewed May 17, 2011

Background

This page provides information regarding a fuel comparison study of CARB diesel and Federal Ultralow Sulfur Diesel fuels pursuant to the California Assembly Bill AB 679.

California has had in place a diesel fuel regulation that promotes and mandates clean burning diesel within the state. Recently, Federal diesel fuel regulations have been modified to reduce sulfur levels to accommodate advanced diesel engines and aftertreatment systems. The California legislature passed Assembly Bill 679 requiring the Air Resources Board (ARB) to convene a panel of interested parties to develop a test protocol to measure the differences in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions between CARB diesel and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2006 ultralow sulfur highway (Federal) diesel fuel. Tests will be performed to define any benefits of CARB diesel fuel against several different Federal diesel fuel blends using a combination of chassis and engine dynamometer testing. The results of these tests will help quantify the continuing benefits of using clean burning diesel fuel in the State. As required by Assembly Bill 679, this evaluation and its results will be submitted to the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and the Assembly Committee on Transportation.

If you have questions regarding this program, please contact the California Air Resources Board at (916) 322-6020.

Meetings, Activities, and Draft Documents

May 5, 2011	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel - Public Meeting in Sacramento from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is the seventh meeting of the Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-673k) (Meeting Time has been revised) Presentation: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-1MB) Handouts: AB679 Test Program (PDF-85k) Appendix I Tables (PDF-127kb) Averaging Methods (PDF-5k) Averaging Differences and Confidence Intervals (PDF-398k)
March 26, 2010	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel - Public Meeting in Sacramento from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is the sixth meeting of the Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-263k) Presentation: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-361k) Federal Diesel Fuel Test Plan (PDF-43k) Meeting Minutes (approved May 5, 2011) (PDF-116k)
February 4, 2010	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel - Public Meeting in Sacramento from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is the fifth meeting of the Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-358k) Draft Test Plan (PDF-29k) Presentation: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-555k) Test Fuel Properties (PDF-33k) Meeting Minutes (approved Mar 26, 2010) (PDF-61KB)
September 25, 2009	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel - Public Meeting in Sacramento from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is the fourth meeting of the Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-384k) Presentation: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-89k) in color, (PDF-76k) in BW for printing Test Fuel Properties (PDF-6k) Meeting Minutes (approved Feb 4, 2010) (PDF-53k)
March 13, 2009	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel - Public Meeting in Sacramento from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is the third meeting of the Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-176k) Presentation: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-12k) Meeting Minutes (approved Sept 25, 2009) (PDF-34k)
January 8, 2009	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel - Public Meeting in Sacramento from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is the second meeting of the Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-289k) Presentation: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-75k) in color, (PDF-65k) in BW for printing
December 3, 2008	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Work Group Meeting in Sacramento from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is the first meeting of the Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Advisory Panel. Meeting Notice (PDF-143k) Agenda (PDF-6k) Presentations: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-58k) in color, (PDF-50k) in BW for printing Additional Presentation Materials (PDF-9k) for discussion only
October 14, 2008	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Work Group Meeting in Sacramento from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Discussion topics will include, but are not limited to, comments received regarding the recently posted draft test plan, CARB and Federal diesel fuel properties, and emission test cycle selection. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-132k) Presentations: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-49k) in color, (PDF-40k) in BW for printing
October 6, 2008	Revised Draft Test Plan: "Assessment of the Emissions from the Use of California Air Resources Board Qualified Diesel Fuels in Comparison with Federal Diesel Fuels - Overview" (PDF-47k)
August 14, 2008	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Work Group Meeting in Sacramento from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Discussion topics will include, but are not limited to, presentation of a draft test protocol, selection of fuel properties, test engine selection, and vehicle selection. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-30k) Presentations: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-57k) in color, (PDF-48k) in BW for printing
June 25, 2008	Draft Test Plan: "Assessment of the Emissions from the Use of California Air Resources Board Qualified Diesel Fuels in Comparison with Federal Diesel Fuels - Overview" (PDF-109k)
April 10, 2008	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study Work Group Meeting in Sacramento from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in conjunction with the Biodiesel/Renewable Diesel Work Group Meeting. Discussion topics will include, but are not limited to, presentation of a draft test protocol, selection of fuel properties, test engine selection, and vehicle selection. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-88k) Presentations: ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-37k) in color, (PDF-34k) in BW for printing
February 26, 2008	Diesel Fuel Comparison Study project to be introduced at the Biodiesel/Renewable Diesel Work Group Meeting in El Monte from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Discussion topics will include, but are not limited to, updates to fuels, storage, engine selection, and vehicle selection. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-56k). Presentations: CARB Diesel vs Federal Diesel - black and white (PDF-16k) or color (PDF-24k)