How to Get a Vehicle Conversion Certificate

In the United States, all after-market vehicle conversions to alternative fuels (with the exception of electricity) need a conversion certificate to prove the car meets EPA standards and can be converted safely. The certificates are granted to organizations, so individuals must work with a certificate holder when converting private cars.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

For Individuals

1. Find a company or organization that holds a certificate of conformity issued by the EPA for the conversion of vehicles to alternative fuels. The designer, producer and manufacturer of the conversion equipment, the vehicle's original manufacturer and any person or company that plans to perform installations could hold a certificate.

2. Determine whether your year and model of car belongs to a group that is already certified for conversion. Most states can provide a list of vehicles that have already been certified. If your type car has not been issued a certificate, the organization you are working with may apply for one on your behalf.

3. Work with the certificate holder to ensure your conversion works properly. To qualify for tax incentives and other benefits of alternative fuel use, your work must be approved by the certificate holder, who is responsible for ensuring that the work meets EPA standards.

For Manufacturers

4. Meet with EPA to determine the process for converting one or more test groups of vehicles. The EPA provides sample applications and test data to assist you.

5. Start emissions testing on the alternative fuel source and gasoline at a laboratory that performs EPA tests. Emission tests must be fuel neutral, so requirements apply to all fuel types. For ethanol conversions, the converted car must pass emissions test with both E85 and gasoline.

6. Test the on-board diagnostics (OBD) to ensure they are compliant with the EPA. You must fully describe the OBD to the EPA as part of your application.

7. Submit the application and test results to the EPA. Further tests may be required by the EPA at its own testing center.

8. Compile the same information for the California air resource board (CARB) if you plan to market conversion systems in California.

Tips & Warnings

• There is no one-size-fits-all certification for conversion systems or vehicles, so each manufacturer and designer must perform its own tests.
• As an individual, you may not get a certification for a retrofit system. You must work through the manufacturer of the car or conversion kit.