California RV Generator Rules Having Impact Already

Above, dry camping on the Keene Ranch near Tehachapi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since California announced its new ban on small gasoline-powered engines such as leaf blowers and lawnmowers, the RV industry has been keeping a close watch on how it may affect RV generators.

It looks like new RVs sold from 2024 on will not come with generators as the manufacturers cannot meet the emissions standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

From RV Travel:

As we reported in December, new generator rules by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) could affect the RV industry. The ruling doesn’t ban the use of portable generators in the Golden State, but it does significantly hamper generator sales come 2024. Date aside, the RV generator industry giant, Cummins, has already frightened RV manufacturers with an announcement on the matter.

The principal manufacturer of frame-mounted motorhome generators is Cummins. Even before CARB voted in the final generator rules, the RV industry gave the governing board a warning. Citing CARB’s new generator rules standards, industry officials wrote that while the standard might be “technologically feasible” to reach, “it is unlikely to be complied with by Cummins-Onan, given the cost of developing a compliant engines[sic] cannot be supported by the very small generator business in California.”

The statement “it is unlikely” has now become true. Earlier this month, Cummins wrote to its RV industry customers a to-the-point letter. The gist of the letter is in two sentences: “Cummins understands the requirements and continues to investigate potential options / responses, while continuing to support the needs of our joint end customers. However, given the current regulatory timeline, differing standards between CARB and EPA, and the significant changes to the generator the standards would necessitate, Cummins will not have any gas/LP/EVAP product(s) that meets the new regulations readily available on January 1, 2024.”

Fallout for industry—and consumers

What does Cummins’ decision mean for the RV industry? The RV Industry Association says that some 10,000 RVs equipped with generators are sold in California each year. Of those, close to 80% are gasoline- or LP-fueled units. Translated, come 2024, thousands of RVs normally equipped with generators will be without them.

Unless things change that are favorable to the RV industry in California, in other words, if you want a new RV with a generator, you'd better buy it before 2024.

Boy, I am sure glad I moved out of that wacko state four years ago.

To read the whole story, go here.