Why We Should Care About CARB

What is CARB? The California Air Resources Board (More often known as CARB) is a regulatory body for the state of California that creates the states standards for clean air. This excerpt is from CARB's own website, "CARB is charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. From requirements for clean cars and fuels to adopting innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, California has pioneered a range of effective approaches that have set the standard for effective air and climate programs for the nation, and the world." When a new product comes onto the market that may have an impact on green house gas emissions, in order for it to be available for purchase in California that product must have a CARB Executive Order (EO).

To obtain a CARB EO companies will have to have their products tested to show that the green house gas emissions of the product meets the standards of CARB. Once the testing is done CARB will either say the product is not up to snuff and development will have to continue and the product can be re-tested, or they will issue an EO for the new product. Once an EO has been received the product can be sold in California. Many companies spend much development time and money to get CARB EOs COBB Tuning, and Edlebrock to name a couple of commonly used brands. Even in the world of performance parts they are able to obtain EOs for their parts and are able to build performance cars while still being environmentally friendly.

"I don't live in CA so why should I care?" While CARB is a California based agency other states are starting to adopt some of their standards for their own emissions boards. When a product has a CARB EO it shows that it meets the highest standards for emissions testing, and the EPA knows that the product at least meets the 1974 Clean Air Act standards. Despite what a lot of people think the EPA does not create laws they are an enforcement agency. They create regulations based on laws that are passed and enforce them. EPA works with other agencies including CARB to ensure that they are in line with what the law says. Because of this collaboration CARB EO approved products can be sold in all 50 states in the US. Because of this and the testing process through CARB aftermarket manufactures can obtain "EPA Approval" without having to get an OEM certification, which is what car makers have.

CARB and the process of obtaining an EO makes products that are cleaner and better for the environment more accessible to everyone. For people that don't live in California see CARB EOs on the products they buy, then you can be assured that if your state adopts CARB standards in the future then your products are still safe. Supporting manufactures that go through this process will encourage others to do the same, and we can have more aftermarket performance parts that help keep our air clean! You can learn more about CARB and the EPA here;

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/

https://www.epa.gov/