What is the Tier 2 Vehicle & Gasoline Sulfur Program?

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The Tier 2 Vehicle and Gasoline Sulfur Program is a landmark program, begun in January 2004, that affects every new passenger vehicle and every gallon of gasoline sold in the U.S. By designing cleaner cars that run on cleaner fuels the result is much cleaner air. For the first time:

-SUVs, pickups, vans, and even the largest passenger vehicles are subject to the same national emission standards as cars
-Vehicles and the fuels they use are treated as a system, so the cleaner vehicles will have the low-sulfur gasoline they need to even greater emission reductions
-New emission standards apply to all passenger vehicles, regardless of whether they run on gasoline, diesel fuel or alternative fuels.

This program, finalized in 1999, is the result of a collaborative effort by a wide range of stakeholders. EPA worked closely with auto companies, oil companies, states, public health and environmental organizations, and others to design a stringent, but balanced program that all key stakeholders could support.