Why do some apparently identical vehicles have different Air Pollution Scores?
A number of vehicles have different Air Pollution Scores even though they are, by all outward appearances, identical. This is usually due to the fact that there are separate EPA and California emission standards. Manufacturers wishing to sell vehicles in California as well as the rest of the U.S. must separately certify them to comply with EPA and California standards. California standards are generally more stringent than EPA standards due to the unique air quality problems in that state, so this can result in a higher Air Pollution Score for the California version. This does not necessarily mean that the vehicle sold in the rest of the U.S. is “dirtier.” In general, if the Underhood Label ID is the same, the vehicle design will be the same as well, meaning that the vehicle has been designed to comply with both sets of standards, so that in reality, the emissions will be at the level of the more stringent of the two standards (California or EPA).
A number of vehicles have different Air Pollution Scores even though they are, by all outward appearances, identical. This is usually due to the fact that there are separate EPA and California emission standards. Manufacturers wishing to sell vehicles in California as well as the rest of the U.S. must separately certify them to comply with EPA and California standards. California standards are generally more stringent than EPA standards due to the unique air quality problems in that state, so this can result in a higher Air Pollution Score for the California version. This does not necessarily mean that the vehicle sold in the rest of the U.S. is “dirtier.” In general, if the Underhood Label ID is the same, the vehicle design will be the same as well, meaning that the vehicle has been designed to comply with both sets of standards, so that in reality, the emissions will be at the level of the more stringent of the two standards (California or EPA).