Illinois EPA Expands Emissions Testing with Mobile Vans in Chicago
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deployed two mobile emissions testing vans, designed to improve access to vehicle emissions testing for Chicago motorists. The initiative aims to address the shortage of free testing stations in the city.
These mobile units, funded by the state’s motor vehicle fuel tax, offer free onboard diagnostic tests. These tests take approximately two minutes to complete.
This expansion builds on a program that began in 1986 with tailpipe tests and evolved to include onboard diagnostics in 2008. According to Philip Millar, acting manager for the vehicle inspection maintenance division at the Illinois EPA, the program is designed to reach areas where residents may face difficulties accessing testing facilities.
“We’d like to be able to bring the mobile testing unit to one of those areas so that people can get their car tested with and it’s more convenient for them,” Millar said in an interview with StateScoop.
The Federal Clean Air Act of 1970 mandates that state emission testing facilities be located within 12 miles of motorists needing to test their vehicles.
How the Mobile Testing Works
Each van is equipped with a scanning tool that connects to vehicles’ diagnostic link connectors, typically located on the driver’s side. Millar explained that the system taps into the vehicle’s computer.
“We’re tapping into the vehicle’s computer and the car is able to tell us what, if anything, might be wrong with the vehicle without having to do any acceleration or connecting to the tailpipe or whatever,” Millar said. “The car will report back all the information that’s being requested of it. And the time it takes to get that information transferred from the scan tool is like, 45 seconds or so.”
A results sheet is then printed, with the entire process taking about two and a half minutes.
This initiative aligns with the state’s broader environmental goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
Testing Requirements and Procedures
Most gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from 1996 and newer are subject to testing once they are four years old. In Illinois, vehicles are tested based on their registration year: odd-year vehicles in odd years, and even-year vehicles in even years. Approximately 2.3 million vehicles undergo testing annually.
Millar noted that failure to comply with the test law results in the inability to renew a vehicle’s license plate until the vehicle meets the requirements.
Recent Developments
In 2016, the Illinois EPA closed four state-run vehicle emissions testing facilities to reduce expenses, including the last two in Chicago. Due to the closure of testing sites, in 2022, the state legislature required the agency to replace the vehicle emissions testing sites that were dismantled.
In addition to the mobile testing units, the agency plans to launch four self-serve kiosks and high-capacity stations in Chicago next month. The decision where to place the stations will be based on demand.
The state has also launched a new multilingual website, Illinois Air Team. The new website is available in Spanish, Polish, and Chinese to provide easier access to information and applications for exemptions, extensions, and waivers. The new website also has features for visually impaired users, and Illinois drivers can now sign up for electronic notifications instead of receiving mailed postcards.
