WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it wants to revise its rules so diesel engines in cars and light trucks will be able to meet clean air regulations in the 1985 model year.
It said the move would save the industry $188 million to $376 million over a five-year period because less pollution control equipment will be needed.
Sales of diesel-equipped vehicles are expected to soar in coming years because they use less fuel.
The problem involves particles in the exhaust that are more prelevant in diesel engines than other types. Under the regulations as currently written all cars and light trucks are supposed to comply with the same standard in 1985.
In order to make it possible for diesel engines to comply, the EPA said it would propose an averaging method for computing particulate emissions. Under the scheme manufacturers would be able to offset engines with low particulate emission against those with high amounts of particles.
As long as the average figure complied with the law the manufacturer's products would be deemed legal, the agency said.
