Generators fueled by gasoline are being addressed by new requirements in California.
The state always has required motor home makers to carefully follow installation instructions provided by the generator’s manufacturer and vehicle chassis supplier. If instructions aren’t followed correctly, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) certificate of compliance can be voided, resulting in noncompliance penalties.
New requirements will be applied to gasoline-fueled generators, also referred to as gensets, with model year 2020 and newer. Under the requirements, motor home manufacturers can use only fuel hoses and related components specified by the generator’s manufacturer. The manufacturer’s installation manual will provide guidance for permitted fuel hoses.
Motor home makers should consult the guidelines provided by the generator manufacturers, as well as the chassis supplier to ensure full compliance with the current 2020 CARB emissions regulations, RVIA stated.
The CARB website lists acceptable gasoline fuel hoses. RVIA encourages manufacturers to check the link for verification that hoses being used for the California market and CARB compliance are listed.
All the fuel hose executive orders (EOs) listed at the link, including from 2018 and 2019, are for hoses certified to comply with the 2020 standards. Hoses can be added or deleted without further notice, RVIA stated.
In 2017, CARB amended its evaporative emissions regulation for small off-road engines, including RV generators, to require new CARB certificates of compliance, or EOs. The EOs indicate that a component, such as a fuel hose, has been tested to comply with CARB’s 2020 evaporative emissions requirements.
“In the past, the burden of compliance proof has typically been placed on the component supplier, such as the generator manufacturer,” RVIA stated. “However, with the multitude of changes that are made over the course of time, these manufacturers are not providing specific guidance on fuel hose usage. Instead, it is now up to the RV motorhome manufacturer to determine if the hose being used is compliant.”
