RPM Act Discussion

[ridered3]

So I have seen lots of car/truck related YouTube personalities and car/truck related Socialist Media personalities requesting that folks sign a petition (see below) related to the RPM Act. Figured it was a worthy topic (modifying emissions equipped vehicles) to be discussed on this forum.

"Released in December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a new Tampering Policy that replaces Mobile Source Enforcement Memo 1A (1974) and addresses civil enforcement of the Clean Air Act’s prohibitions on tampering and aftermarket defeat devices. The updated Policy reinforces the interpretation that in exercising its discretion the EPA will forego enforcement action when a company has a documented “reasonable basis” that a product will not adversely affect vehicle emissions when installed."

SEMA Info:
https://www.sema.org/epa-news

Union of Concerned Scientists Info:
https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-cooke/...ion-dollar-industry-is-trying-to-ruin-our-air
Petition:
https://www.votervoice.net/SEMA/campaigns/45394/respond
With the various links and basic info, what is everyone's thoughts on this automotive topic?

 

[Bebop]

I signed. Dunno if they count a foreigner as a signature but **** this.

Also you wrote "socialist media personalities" and got a chuckle out of me.

 

[TBItoy]

EPA is going to become the new ATF

Raiding jobsites to check that excavators are running their DEF...

 

[ridered3]

I signed. Dunno if they count a foreigner as a signature but **** this.

Also you wrote "socialist media personalities" and got a chuckle out of me.

Yeah my laptop auto corrects to that and FaceSpace.

EPA is going to become the new ATF

Raiding jobsites to check that excavators are running their DEF...

No Knock attempts at places with dozers and excavators would be interesting.

 

[Bebop]

EPA is going to become the new ATF

Raiding jobsites to check that excavators are running their DEF...

I bet it will. And the fines will make you tank your business if you're the owner.
It's happening in Europe already.

 

[crawler 129]

My truck came deleted from the dealership . I assume they will take responsibility.

 

[paradisepwoffrd]

Our local rep responded to an email about it, and said that it hasnt been mentioned at all since the new congress took office this yr. Not saying it wont come up, but they are too busy trying to destroy the majority of american's lives.

 

[ridered3]

Our local rep responded to an email about it, and said that it hasnt been mentioned at all since the new congress took office this yr. Not saying it wont come up, but they are too busy trying to destroy the majority of american's lives.

Least their priorities are in order :****:

 

[ridered3]

Response from Marsha Blackburn, US Senator for my District in TN:

"Dear Patrick,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and amateur racecars. I always appreciate hearing from Tennesseans.

In 2015, the EPA proposed a rule to fine amateur motorsports enthusiasts for converting their personal vehicles into racecars. The proposed rule was withdrawn. I share your concern for federal overreach, and I support the rights of amateur racecar enthusiasts. Please be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind should legislation on this matter come before the full Senate this year.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. If you would like regular updates on my work for Tennessee, please sign up for my weekly newsletter or follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Sincerely,

Marsha Blackburn"
United States Senator

 

[ridered3]

Anyone else sign/send letters and get responses form the elected officials?

 

[Lil ugly]

I signed and sent letter to my rep. Received a similar response to what the Tennessee rep sent out. The whole thing with cars is bs. There were carburators with the ability to provide 30 miles a gallon back in the 70's. The technology was squashed then, the same as the diesel truck mileage was squashed all based on "clean emissions" I dont see how the long term math can work on burning more gallons of fuel while driving fewer miles gets us cleaner environment.

 

[ridered3]

I signed and sent letter to my rep. Received a similar response to what the Tennessee rep sent out. The whole thing with cars is bs. There were carburators with the ability to provide 30 miles a gallon back in the 70's. The technology was squashed then, the same as the diesel truck mileage was squashed all based on "clean emissions" I dont see how the long term math can work on burning more gallons of fuel while driving fewer miles gets us cleaner environment.

Blame that on New Math 2+2=Equals whatever you want it to be.

 

[ridered3]

Another version of the RPM Act petition has started making the rounds this week. I just filled it out and it was sent to 1 of the 3 political figures the last petition was sent to for my area of TN. Link is below.

https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/SEMA/campaigns/45394/respond

 

[ridered3]

Watch the first five minutes of this video to get an idea of the potential ripple effect this legislation could have on all our Motorsport related hobbies.

 

[87TPIYJ]

The writing is on the wall. Before you know it combustion vehicles will be banned as well as you driving your own car. The only way for autonomous vehicles to work is to take the unknown variable out... YOU. All this will be done in the name of the environment and safety. Big brother know best!

 

[ridered3]

Fill out this form - https://www.votervoice.net/SEMA/campa...
Information on the RPM Act - https://www.sema.org/epa-news

 

[paradisepwoffrd]

The writing is on the wall. Before you know it combustion vehicles will be banned as well as you driving your own car. The only way for autonomous vehicles to work is to take the unknown variable out... YOU. All this will be done in the name of the environment and safety. Big brother know best!

I could see carpool lanes switch to autonomous vehicles first.

 

[Lil ugly]

I dont get how the math works on the entire electric car thing. I am not against electric cars by any means. From a short commute status you could have a vehicle with more horsepower and torque for alot cheaper than a gasoline car. However they currently dont work for long distance. How do make a 800 mile trip in a car that requires a 45 minute charge time every 300 miles?

If you replace every gas car with an electric car, it really is not a cleaner option environmentally. Batteries are toxic no matter what type. You have to generate enough electricity to charge all of these electric cars with power generation systems that are not currently all that clean. That doesnt even start to get into the fact that our current power grid would never handle the load of everyone needing to charge a car much less the multiple cars that most everyone owns. I exclude myself as I own 6 but thats beside the point.

More of that fuzzy government math.

 

[ridered3]

I dont get how the math works on the entire electric car thing. I am not against electric cars by any means. From a short commute status you could have a vehicle with more horsepower and torque for alot cheaper than a gasoline car. However they currently dont work for long distance. How do make a 800 mile trip in a car that requires a 45 minute charge time every 300 miles?

If you replace every gas car with an electric car, it really is not a cleaner option environmentally. Batteries are toxic no matter what type. You have to generate enough electricity to charge all of these electric cars with power generation systems that are not currently all that clean. That doesnt even start to get into the fact that our current power grid would never handle the load of everyone needing to charge a car much less the multiple cars that most everyone owns. I exclude myself as I own 6 but thats beside the point.

More of that fuzzy government math.

^
That pretty much sums up my thoughts as well about electric vehicles. I don’t feel like the approach of ALL vehicles should be electric is the right approach.

Additionally you have the major negative environmental impacts of battery/electric vehicle production (I know “regular vehicle production” isn’t all that great either), but that’s not what “they” (insert references to .Gov or Tesla nuttswingers, or Hippies, etc) want to acknowledge/consider.

 

[MidMo]

The problem is the “green” crowd who feels we all need to be in electric cars doesn’t quite understand the fact that wind/solar, on the utility side, are only implemented when the utility company needs to get their total carbon “footprint” percentage down. If it was an efficient means of generating electric there would be no more coal burners in service. Evidently, they have no problems with the rest of the world consuming and profiting off the fossil fuel industry. Putin wants to build a pipeline into Germany, no big deal, but God forbid we keep our own people working building the keystone pipeline.

 

[paradisepwoffrd]

To make the electric car more financially sound for the consumer, the gov will give the power companies more money to keep the rates lower. I would even bet, there might be discounts/incentives from the power companies if you have a charging station. The Gov already gives incentives for buying new electric cars. Not enough to offset the cost, but its more than a gas vehicle.

To me, the only way the power grid will handle a large swing like that, is for something like the solar shingle to become more popular. If many of the homes in the US have solar panels on the roof and storage systems, while not as efficient as other sources, it will strengthen the grid.

Also, you will have to start thinking about fuel stations in a different manner. It takes too long for the batteries to charge, even with 480V. They have started, but will need to place charging stations as places like, shopping centers, and restaurants. Places that people typically spend more time, than a gas station. If you are on a trip, you would stop at a rest stop or restaurant every few hours to take a break and charge.

I also agree that the battery size needs to increase, but the majority of americans dont really have that concern. If you think about where most of the population lives, its places like NY, LA, Chicago, DC, etc. Stats show that a large population of americans rent vehicles when going on trips. Im sure that number is skewed by business travel, and folks that down need a car everyday.

As I have thought about this, I have thought that someone needs to produce a battery pack that is the size of a roller suitcase, like you take on a plane. Think of like a booster for you cell phone, but it is for your car. Most cars are designed so they can fit atleast 2 of these in the trunk. If it could give you an extra 1-200 miles, you could put in your trunk and have a reserve for those trips.

Speaking of power generation, I have also thought about a concept that one would put in their water line, coming into their house. Every time you turn on the water, it would spin a small generator and create power. I think there is something out there, that could be adapted. It might not make enough energy to matter.

Of course, all of this doesnt displace the destruction of lithium mining or the radioactive storage waste issue of batteries that are "dead". Hey, maybe that is a solution. Lets just dump them all into the old lithium mines.

 

[The-Boss]

The problem is the “green” crowd who feels we all need to be in electric cars doesn’t quite understand the fact that wind/solar, on the utility side, are only implemented when the utility company needs to get their total carbon “footprint” percentage down. If it was an efficient means of generating electric there would be no more coal burners in service.

This isn't always true anymore. There are some companies that have gotten extremely good with cost and it is cheaper generation regardless of subsidies. There was a ton built in red states during Trump years because it doesn’t matter anymore. They can promote coal all they want but if solar and gas are a lot cheaper long term, coal is dead for future because its more expensive.

 

[The-Boss]

To make the electric car more financially sound for the consumer, the gov will give the power companies more money to keep the rates lower. I would even bet, there might be discounts/incentives from the power companies if you have a charging station. The Gov already gives incentives for buying new electric cars. Not enough to offset the cost, but its more than a gas vehicle.

To me, the only way the power grid will handle a large swing like that, is for something like the solar shingle to become more popular. If many of the homes in the US have solar panels on the roof and storage systems, while not as efficient as other sources, it will strengthen the grid.

Also, you will have to start thinking about fuel stations in a different manner. It takes too long for the batteries to charge, even with 480V. They have started, but will need to place charging stations as places like, shopping centers, and restaurants. Places that people typically spend more time, than a gas station. If you are on a trip, you would stop at a rest stop or restaurant every few hours to take a break and charge.

I also agree that the battery size needs to increase, but the majority of americans dont really have that concern. If you think about where most of the population lives, its places like NY, LA, Chicago, DC, etc. Stats show that a large population of americans rent vehicles when going on trips. Im sure that number is skewed by business travel, and folks that down need a car everyday.

As I have thought about this, I have thought that someone needs to produce a battery pack that is the size of a roller suitcase, like you take on a plane. Think of like a booster for you cell phone, but it is for your car. Most cars are designed so they can fit atleast 2 of these in the trunk. If it could give you an extra 1-200 miles, you could put in your trunk and have a reserve for those trips.

Speaking of power generation, I have also thought about a concept that one would put in their water line, coming into their house. Every time you turn on the water, it would spin a small generator and create power. I think there is something out there, that could be adapted. It might not make enough energy to matter.

Of course, all of this doesnt displace the destruction of lithium mining or the radioactive storage waste issue of batteries that are "dead". Hey, maybe that is a solution. Lets just dump them all into the old lithium mines.

Power companies don't need subsidies to keep rates low with electric cars because the increase in usage from them will do that.
The most efficient way to do solar is large scale. However,
if you start having a ton of homes with solar you end up like Hawaii where their system is completely jacked up and the people that can't afford it get shafted big time. Solar starts to become an issue reguardless when the percentage of generation goes up very high. You then have to add large battery banks or gas peakers to keep the base load in check. This is a gross simplification but mostly accurate.
I like that idea of a portable battery extender. Probably something people could rent cheap for a trip. I don't think the water generator would be worth it but someone in that field could do that calculation easy and find out.
The mining and Hazardous waste from batteries is definitely a factor. Recycling them is pretty good for electric cars from what I understand though. I have always said that in the world we currently live in, the most "GREEN" car you can buy is an older one and keep it on the road. Electric only works if you are making your only choice a new car and that isn't very green of them. Hydrogen I think is going to bigger in the future for cars. I figured it was dead but has recently became a bigger topic again.

 

[ridered3]

 

[MidMo]

I agree that’s all very true, i feel it’s hard to beat coal from a reliability stand point. Wind farms take up a lot of space, are susceptible to inclement weather (snow/ice and if you live in a place that has tornados frequently a wind farm would be an easy target given their vast footprint). Then you kind of have the same problems with solar, if the solar panels are covered in snow you’re not generating electric and their size (not as bad as a wind farm of course) makes them susceptible to damaging winds/ tornados and hail. My personal opinion would be that they mandate that every coal burner has a scrubber by such and such year or if that’s not feasible for the particular utility company then wouldn’t the most cost efficient solution be to retrofit a coal burner to burn natural gas? Other than the means of getting the fuel there to it, really all work needed to be done would be right there on the turbine deck, and then you’d be able to utilize all the already in place of distribution.

 

[TBItoy]

Tesla is doing the big battery storage thing, it just doesn't get as much internet hype as cars and Musk Tweets

 

[The-Boss]

I agree that’s all very true, i feel it’s hard to beat coal from a reliability stand point. Wind farms take up a lot of space, are susceptible to inclement weather (snow/ice and if you live in a place that has tornados frequently a wind farm would be an easy target given their vast footprint). Then you kind of have the same problems with solar, if the solar panels are covered in snow you’re not generating electric and their size (not as bad as a wind farm of course) makes them susceptible to damaging winds/ tornados and hail. My personal opinion would be that they mandate that every coal burner has a scrubber by such and such year or if that’s not feasible for the particular utility company then wouldn’t the most cost efficient solution be to retrofit a coal burner to burn natural gas? Other than the means of getting the fuel there to it, really all work needed to be done would be right there on the turbine deck, and then you’d be able to utilize all the already in place of distribution.

Coal is definitely reliable base load generation as long as a good company runs it. I have lots of experience with it. Unless you are talking way up north you can have wind and solar with coatings, heaters, ect that will defeat the ice for the most part. Example is those turbines in Texas didn't have all the de icing technology like they do up north so those jokers froze up quick during that blizzard. I bet they make it mandatory now. Main thing wind and solar has going is they are usually spread out. So if a hurricane tears up a few solar fields it isn't going to effect generation unless you live somewhere like Texas where they don't share much in the region. I happen to know about a utility that has a perfectly good over 500 million dollar scrubber that isn't paid off and still says its financially better to stop coal operations which they have done. You can convert to gas with some turbine upgrades but it isn't as efficient as CTs and CCs. Your logic isn't bad at all. I have just changed my views after being around it a lot the last few years.

 

[ridered3]

First public fine I’ve seen from the EPA related to modified ECU’s that’s quasi-RPM Act related:


*correction this fine and the Diesel Brothers fines were related to Clean Air Act and not in the correct timeline for the RPM Act.

 

[paradisepwoffrd]

First public fine I’ve seen from the EPA related to modified ECU’s that’s quasi-RPM Act related:

The real issue I am seeing is that the EPA passed a new "Clean Air Act" last year. The hope would be that it can be repealed and replaced with something reasonable, with actual science behind it. The RPM Act was just brought back to the house in May.

 

[Bebop]

First public fine I’ve seen from the EPA related to modified ECU’s that’s quasi-RPM Act related:

The Diesel bros got fined a huge amount last year on Clean Air act basis too.