http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/roadbike/3-steps-hmc-certdoc.pdf
Certification and Compliance Guidance
Printable View
Thank you for contacting EPA. While you are waiting for our responses,
please read the following highlight which will assist you in your
certification and compliance process.
The highlight is intended only for manufacturers/importers wishing to
sell new motorcycles and ATVs in the United States.
For small/large spark ignition engine (that are not used for motorcycles
and ATVs) and snowmobile certification, please contact Mr. Mike Wolfe
(Wolfe.Michael@epa.gov or 202-343-9539); for marine spark ignition
engine certification, please contact Nydia Reyes Morales (202-343-9264).
Those certification programs are managed by another group of this Office
located in Washington D.C.
Motorcycles/ATVs Certification Highlight
1. Applicable Regulations
Motorcycles and ATVs must demonstrate compliance with emission standards
and requirements set forth in the following listed regulations:
- For highway motorcycles: 40 CFR Part 86, Subpart F and E
- For off-road (off-highway) motorcycles and ATVs: 40 CFR Parts
1051, 1065 and 1068
The regulations are accessible online
2. Certification Guidance:
EPA certificates are required in order to sell motorcycles/ATVs in the
United States. Under the motorcycle and ATV programs, EPA issues
certificates to U.S. Manufacturers/U.S. importers only. New certificate
(s) must be applied for each model year. The process of obtaining a
certificate for a new manufacturer is complex and we strongly urge any
new manufacturers wishing to obtain an EPA certificate of conformity to
read and understand the regulations and our step-by-step guidance posted
online at:
- for on-road (highway) motorcycles: www.epa.gov/otaq/roadbikes.htm
- for off-road (off-highway) motorcycles and ATVs:
www.epa.gov/otaq/recveh.htm
Motorcycles and ATVs indented to be sold in California must comply with
the emission requirements in California. If your sale occurs in
California only, an Executive Order (EO) issued by the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) must be obtained prior to EPA certification.
Further information on obtaining the EO from CARB may be obtained by
contacting Mr. Duc Nguyen at: dnguyen@arb.ca.gov
3. General Process
A new U.S. manufacturer/U.S. importer must send a Letter of Intent by
following the instructions in the above mentioned guidance to
MC-cert@epa.gov. After receiving a response from EPA, a qualifying U.S.
manufacturer/U.S. importer then may fill out a form to apply for your
manufacturer Code ID and register to use EPA’s interactive online
computer system named VERIFY. Applications are submitted online via
website www.epa.gov/CDX .
In order to obtain a Certificate of Conformity in time, a completed
application, including both application documentation and Certification
Information Summary (CSI) Data that meet EPA requirements, must be
submitted electronically online to EPA Two separate application
documentations may be submitted; one labeled CBI (confidential business
information) which may contain sales projections, catalyst loading
details and other information which is manufacturer proprietary
information, and one labeled FOI which contains information releasable
to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If there is
no confidential information, only the FOI version need be submitted. All
certificates are sent electronically to a manufacturer designated e-mail
address. It is a manufacturer’s responsibility to keep the email
up-to-date in your VERIFY user account.
Manufacturers may anticipate that EPA will conduct auditing testing on
your certifying motorcycles/ATVs at an EPA specified emission testing
laboratory.
4. Certification Fees
EPA requires a certification fee for each certificate (40 CFR Subpart Y,
85.2408(c)) in advance of any EPA services related to certification
activities. In general, EPA will accept and begin work on an application
only after the fee is received. Manufacturers are advised to plan
approximately two weeks for the EPA to receive the fee and log the
payment into our database. Proper and timely fee payments will minimize
the time necessary to process an application.
The fee for each certificate will change each year as it is adjusted for
inflation and to reflect changes in the numbers of certificate issued.
All information necessary for submitting the required fees is located
at: www.epa.gov/otaq/fees.htm.
5. Importation Issues
Motorcycles/ATVs importation issues are handled by the EPA Imports Team.
Please contact them via imports@epa.gov.
Motorcycle/ATV Certification Team
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
U.S. EPA
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI
Many paths lead to one destination, not all paths are the same and not all paths carry the same tolls, choose your guide wisely?
If you are an OEM and have formal operations in the USA you do not necessarily have to pay for EPA testing. If you are an ICI you will if you do not have a contractual agreement with an OEM and that would be related to whether that OEM does or does not have its own testing facility/capability. Basically it is not cut and dried, the path you take is a matter of who you are and how capable you are as in how much real and actual knowledge and or ability you possess.
The EPA offers all the information needed….it is not exhaustive, it is actually comprehensive, but in that it requires comprehension.
I am here to offer both comprehension and also some composition, the attempt is to express it to any that may have an interest.
If you do not have the ability and or knowledge….you then have to pay for it, obviously.
This is the question sent to the EPA:
I am researching the EPA compliance procedure for Imported motorcycles. Specifically my question is about testing, does the testing for compliance have to be done by the EPA or can a manufacturer test and submit an application for a certificate based on its own testing.
This is the response I received from the EPA:
Testing of motor vehicle is done by the manufacturers. For manufacturers that do not have a recognized testing facility they will need to contract out the testing to be done by an independent recognized testing facility. If a vehicle is being imported for testing then the importer will need to apply for a Testing exemption from EPA.
David C. Hurlin
EPA Imports Line
Exemptions & Exclusions
Managed by URS, Federal Services
(734) 214-4100
MJH, I think that that is what got some manufacturers in trouble a few years ago--I think they were testing their own bikes which, of course 'passed' and later did not pass muster from the EPA.
Then they made false claims. It is a faith based systems that can be audited when fraud is suspect the EPA will show up unannounced, they will take a sample, then it better be what what it was claimed to be on the application to the EPA and perform under testing within the levels claimed on that application.
I don't recall the company, but it might have been Roketa (don't quote me) or the factory that claims to be Roketa in China (I know now they are more of a distributor vs. a 'manufacturer') Do you recall anything along this line?
Nope only the Petboys incident and a case in 2004 which was a BMW dealer altering stock and selling those altered bikes.Quote:
Originally Posted by culcune
Yes, that is correct, and I remember reading the article--Baja was the 'brand' name sold through Pepboys stores. Sorry Roketa.....:uhoh:Quote:
Originally Posted by MJH
MORE INFO FOR SKYTEAM ACE 125.......http://moto-scoot.net/skyteam_ace.php
I am a newby as far as the chinese motorcycle market goes- was a youngster when the Japanese got started in the US- and I am sort of hot to lay my hands on one of the Skyteam Ace125's. My first, and most important question involves the engine family used - is the engine a Honda clone (and if so anybody know which family?) I have many years of experience with a variety of older Honda four stroke engines and although to me the engine in the Ace 125 doesn't look as Honda as some other manufacturers I have seen until I get my hands on one it is hard to tell. If I can get any info on the engine in the Ace 125 to start working out plans I would appreciate it.
Thanks, Charlie
Based on CG125 http://world.honda.com/history/chall...125/index.html which NEVER imported to US officially. Doesn't look as Honda because it's balanced.
Thanks for the info. Still appears I would have to get my hands on one to truly know whether a direct bolt in swap (seems unlikely at this point) would be possible. That CG125 engine is interesting to me ( from an engineering standpoint) as it was not used in the US, performance potential seems limited, but article about it touts its reliability. Talked to somebody at Skyteam Headquarters on the phone and he said the Ace125 should be here in the US around June.
Charlie
That was a very cool read thanks for posting itQuote:
Originally Posted by humanbeing
I wish I knew you were calling--I want people to let them know we are interested in their 223cc enduro and V-Raptor which they have no plans for as of yet--if enough people request these bikes, they might change their mind and add them to their US lineup?!Quote:
Originally Posted by xrdude
Well, I guess I could say I am interested in them bringing those two models in, even if isn't necessarily so. They look nice, kind of a Yamaha TW200 copy and CRF230 copy, but I am on the downslide of my riding career and my dirt years are pretty much behind me--
Charlie
I was joking about the phone call; however, I would like these bikes to come to the US. I have always liked enduros, and as I have gotten older, I like the fat-tired dirt bike look, ala TW200. Kind of like the idea behind beach cruisers, but more useful! I am considering the RV90 clone they offer...Quote:
Originally Posted by xrdude
MJH, I am interested in importing a Chinese motor for a production motorcycle made here in the States. I am in an ongoing dialogue with the EPA, and realize any motor we choose to use would have to be tested in each application, eg. our specific make and model, but I was wondering if you knew of any good candidates to start with, or that have already stood up to the EPA testing. It is my understanding that Cleveland Motor Werks and Skyteam are both using Chinese Honda clone motors. From my online research and reading this thread, it seems that both companies have gotten those engines to meet EPA regulations. Is this true?
I am brand new to this forum, but I would love to continue this discussion either through pm's or email.
Thanks,
Richard
I would say that the least costly way to do it would be to get the 2011 EPA list of conforming models.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/crttst.htm
The 2012 list has not been released as of yet.
That is a text file and you can import it into a spread sheet…..you can find instruction online for doing that.
That has all the models that have been approved and also the names of the companies including the engine suppliers. Some of the manufacturers listed have test labs in the factories. Those that do should be able to configure a prototype that you can get approved and provide the data needed for an EPA application.
The EPA takes applications and those have to be submitted correctly. If you build the production models here then the related parts have to be identical to the approved prototype that was manufactured in China.
You could also buy any model here that has a certificate and reverse engineer it, then pay to a lab here to certify it.
These motorcycle engines are nearly all the same they mostly all use the same carburetors and likely the same catalytic elements in the exhaust and SAI devices and those could be sourced from china…..
I have to wonder what percentage of the list is “just say it is” when it actually is not? So you would have to understand the requirements and police who ever is testing the products.
Consider how many models have been approved out of china…allot.
There are 249cc V-twins that are a copy of a Yamaha, there are parallel 234cc twins a copy of a Honda, then the most common are 200-229cc singles copies of Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda. The most interesting is the DOHC-4 valve 249cc water cooled single which is a copy of a Honda.
That’s about all I can offer….
Thanks so much for the information. I will definitely follow up on your leads. I hope you don't mind if I bug you for more information in the future.
Best,
Richard
There are multitude of companies with an EPA certificate, most being 200cc off-road/enduros with a sprinkling of 250cc street bikes. However, many of these companies are not necessarily the source of engine manufacturing as they source them from others (i.e. Lifan and Zongshen).
Skyteam does not have EPA cert. for anything larger than 125cc in the US, and as of now, are not planning to bring any larger engined bikes that they offer in other markets such as Europe (they have a very stout 223cc engine in some other markets). If you contact them, you might be able to convince them to manufacture engines for you, but you would have to be the manufacturer of record, which brings us to CCW. CCW are, in effect, manufacturers, so the engine they have manufactured for them is their own proprietary design, and is OEM'd by Lifan.
One company that seems to welcome people re-branding their bikes is Qingqi. As an example this bike happens to be a Qingqi-branded bike but I am sure would welcome cooperating with you http://www.jpmotorsports.com/pre_own...R0&veh=2382012 in supplying engines. If you have the means, it might be worth your while, as MJH suggested, to purchase one and reverse-engineer it, or at least the engine, since their 250 is already certified for the street and off-road in the US.
In fact, Qingqi OEMs for Suzuki's 250 and under engines, and this is one of them. They are not identical (for obvious reasons) but the engines are essentially Suzuki engineered (vs. Honda) is you wanted something a little different. The founder of this site, 'Crazy Carl' Parker has an indepth thread of his visit to Qingqi, and if you PM'd him, could probably help you get in contact with his old contacts there.
I spoke with SkyteamUSA earlier today since I had some flex time off from work. I wanted to know if they still carried the CT-70 clones, or if they were not allowed to since other companies sell them under their own brand names, such as Pitster Pro and SSR. The guy stated they had them, but only in yellow right now. I asked him about other products, such as the retro 125cc Honda Dream replica, and they are still waiting for final approval for the US.
I then asked about full-size bikes such as the 230 enduro/motard, or more importantly, the V-Raptor. The guy stated that they are activley discussing that particular bike. I said that that would sell very well here and would be worth the certification process for the US. Their T-Rex is currently out of stock right now, and the V-Raptor is pretty much a step up from that, so T-Rex selling out should be a good indicator of potential V-Raptor sales. I did drop the hint as to them offering the enduro/motard like they used to through United Motors.
Skyteam has a new model in the works, its being put together by Snake Motors.
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...05962174_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...57075942_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...05965932_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...33924010_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...66409085_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...42128834_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...49086427_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...00567645_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...52323457_n.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...95268954_n.jpg
They are also offering an electric version of the T-Rex
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...78503725_n.jpg
Skyteam named the little electric an E MAX
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...ax_skyteam.jpg
They are offering these in the UK for $3,250.00, here is the link.
Somehow, these e-Daxes look like toys. I do not know whose these e-Wave clones, but they look a much more serious - http://www.chinae-vehicle.com/index....&a=view&id=294