American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Torrance, Calif., announced that its 1998 Accord and Civic models are the first gasoline-fueled vehicles to earn 50-state Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) certification under the U.S. EPA's Clean Fuel Fleet Vehicle (CFFV) provisions. Previously, fleet operators were faced with a strict requirement to purchase vehicles under the CFFV program that required reformulated gasoline or alternative fuels. Due to limited vehicle choice for fleet owners of alternative fuel vehicles, the EPA recently relaxed its policy on the in-use fuel requirement. As a result, Honda has certified the Accord and Civic as LEVs with the EPA under its CFFV program.
"This certification is a further indication that consumers can have an immediate impact on improving the environment with a variety of fuels," says Dick Colliver, American Honda executive vice president.
Honda has been voluntarily selling Accord and Civic LEV models in all 50 states. More than 190,000 of the 1998 model year LEVs have been sold with the advanced low-emission technology.
