Back in late 2021, we reported on California’s potential ban of the sale of gas-fired portable generators. The “ban” allowed that by 2024, gas-fired generators would need to meet new, stringent air pollution standards. Many RVers were fired up, as the state’s Air Resources Board (CARB) lumped built-in generators, like the Onan brand, right along in the regulations. But CARB was sure the industry could respond. Onan’s manufacturer, Cummins, was not.
Within four months, the company wrote a letter to the RV industry that said, in part, “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.” That tune changed when later the company said it could maybe come up with something. Now it seems, under pressure, a crop of Cummins new generators will be available, just in the nick of time.
There is no real “ban” on generator use
Just how will RVers be affected when the 2024 deadline rolls around? First, even if your existing RV generator doesn’t meet the 2024 CARB standards, you can still fire it up in California. What it does mean is that generators sold in the Golden State will have to meet the new emissions standards. Cummins new generators will meet those standards, whether a smaller, say, truck camper model, or something with enough muscle for your big Class A motorhome.
Cummins new generators
Here’s the breakdown of Cummins’ new generators. In the mid-range size, the current QG 4000 (which now sells in the low- to mid-$4,000 range) will be phased out by the QG 4000i. Electronic fuel injection and other changes will make a big difference in air pollutants. Cummins claims the new model will provide better fuel efficiency.
In the smaller class, Cummins’ new generators will make a few changes to the existing QG 2500i and QG 2800i models, which were introduced in 2020. “A few more mechanical enhancements and new engine calibrations” were all that was required to bring them “up to snuff.” The tweaked versions of these will be out in February next year. The new releases will look the same and apparently have roughly the same dimensions as the older models.
On the higher-power end, the Onan QG 5500 and QG 7000 generators will have new California variants. There are electronic fuel injection “variants available today and are undergoing electronic calibration and certification development to reach the new targets,” says Cummins. If you like your existing model, you’ll still be able to get one in states other than California. Sales in California will have the new “variant” that will theoretically meet CARB standards.
And just how much will they cost?
The big question, of course: How much will they cost? We spoke with Andy Kelly, Cummins “Global Marketing Leader.” Will new Cummins generators come with a new (and hefty) price? Kelly was quick to point out that all the technology changes, like going from carburetion to electronic fuel injection, and adding in sophisticated emissions monitoring and control systems, “will impact costs.” “Prices will go up slightly,” he told us. Just how “slightly”? It will “vary by model.” Uh-huh.
Cummins is “currently working with OEMs,” Kelly says, meaning, Cummings is likely negotiating with RV manufacturers, their biggest customers. “Retail pricing,” we were told, “is not likely to be released until January or February 2024.” Since not all models will be built with CARB compliance, one would hope if you’re thinking about buying one of those green electrical boxes somewhere other than in California, the prices should be much the same as they are today. Time will tell.
##RVT1110b
Would like generator manufacturers make quieter ones.
Camp ground were staying at the air is filled with the sounds of generators. Don’t care what California does.
California generator ‘ban’ fizzles – your headline suggests the “ban” was dropped or postponed. Then your story tells how Cummins is the only thing that changed direction. And it wasn’t a ban on existing generators to begin with. It was new and gas only. Congrats on going for Facebook and other BS headlines to get items read. You’ve dropped a long way in the last two years.
Hi, Jeff. Do you see where “ban” is in quotation marks in the title and the article, or is referred to as “potential” or “so-called” in the article? Those terms were used because a ban was what was being considered in California, i.e., we didn’t make it up. Even if that weren’t the case, per the Associated Press Style Book, “Put quotation marks around a word or words used in an ironical sense.” According to Merriam-Webster, “irony” is “the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning.” If you read this article and the previous one linked in it, I think we covered the topic factually and the headline was not “BS”. (In that instance, the quotation marks are used because that’s a quote from you, not because it’s used ironically.🤔😅) Have a good afternoon/evening. 🙂 –Diane at RVtravel.com
In 2020 I lost power at my home for 3 weeks. I have lost power for multiple days several times, and a generator was essential necessity. If I have to drive out of state to get one, I will. I have 2 generators now. When my power company (PG&E) becomes more reliable, I might sell the generators, but for the foreseeable future, I will need a generator of some sort.
Perfect!
For all you Libs on the left coast, this is just another typical government regulation that hits the everyday camper right in the wallet. And, worse yet, the members of the CARB board aren’t even elected! Go ahead, keep electing the nut jobs that are in office by “your” vote who then empower groups like CARB. You get what you vote for, and please, don’t leave your beloved state of California and take your wack-a-doodle politics with you.
Oh yes because protecting the environment is soooooo not important! I’m sick to death of you short-sighted yahoos, and proud to be a “left-coast lib” that puts a clean safe world above $$
I have never met anyone that is for more pollution or for more trash in the ditches or for more poison in the water. The only difference is that we have different solutions to the same problems, L or R. Both sides dug in without a pragmatic and measurable approach.
We all have to respect the multitude of approaches instead of each if us having emotional responses if we are to make a positive impact.
You are correct in asserting better emissions from generators is part of the solution and at the same time, perhaps electric vehicles do more damage in manufacturing production and further environmental damages due to electrical needs coming from coal compared to ICE. As long as we can hit pause when needed, or FF when realistic or RW it all if it’s not working, then we all win.
We all walk on the same tightrope, Pammy. Cheers. 👍🙂
Agreed on most of your early statement .. but regarding ICE vs EV it’s not just environment that concerns me but the direct impact on health that vehicle exhaust has. I’ve been a gearhead most of my life but am more than ready to see a change .. I just hope it happens in my lifetime.
Well Stated, LoneWolf !!
LOL. Yeah, sure.
Have another toke.
Generators absolutely ruin the camping experience for those of us using CA state parks. Folks turn on these loud, screaming machines in their campsites and then drive away for the day. Leaving all the surrounding campers to deal with the horrid noise. It’s unbelievable how selfish these folks are. If you come to a beautiful site and then sit inside your rig and just watch TV with your generator going you’re just an awful, thoughtless jerk.
California state park campers would not have to worry or listen to generators if the State would just electrify their campgrounds the same way they electrify parking lots for EV’s. Imagine all those dirty tent camper and RV camper generators across the state spewing all that air pollution into California’s clean air from the state’s own state parks.
Wait, are you telling me that if I haul my tent and other camping gear to a state park in my Ford Lightning I won’t be able to plug it in to recharge it to get home? I’ll need to bring a gas powered generator to do that?
They must want you to camp at Public City parks and County Parks with electric charging stations instead of the State Parks with trees, wildlife, hiking trails and recreation areas. Unless of course you include recreational drug use into the recreational factor of recreating in city parks filled with tents and portapotties.
Sure. Just don’t sit on the side of the road waiting for people to drop off a gallon of gas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTCeREg_EeU
Totally agree! I rarely stay at campgrounds anymore, between screaming kids, endlessly barking dogs and generators, it’s much quieter to boondock
I as well, but be aware that the quiet can come with a safety aspect – especially if you boondock out of state with CA plates. Prepare accordingly and stay safe!
I wonder if the fuel injection on them will be throwaway like their stupid worthless carburetors? I thought when Cummins bought Onan things would improve but that sure wasn’t the outcome. An Onan generator is like an old woman, requires way too much TLC.
It may be true you can still use your older generators in CA, but you can’t get them repaired. I recently searched for a fuel pump for the Onan Cummins Generator 4KW generator. Amazon carries it but can’t ship it to California. The state talketh out of both sides of their mouth.
Imagine that. A little regulatory pressure and somehow, mysteriously, Cummins manages to quickly come up with a cleaner, more efficient version of thier generators. Maybe California should have thrown in noise pollution standards as well. When environmental and societal costs are considered along with labor and material costs and pure dollar profit, then we end up with a better end product overall.
Oh, so Cummins finally decides to join the modern era by adding calibrated fuel injection as cars have had for decades?
And snowmobiles, outboard motors, atv/utv’s, etc.
Time to move off the log Grandpa.
The 4-stroke efi outboards are freakin awesome now. It took years of engineering but if I got back into boating again, I would prefer having 6 x 350 hp outboards on the back of a 55 foot cruiser than 2 or 3 naturally aspirated 700hp inboards with blowers. In fact, 6 x 350hp efi outboards is better fuel economy than 2 x 450hp efi inboards. From 110 gallons per hour at speed to 60 gallons per hour at speed. How’s that for doing my part to save the planet? Maybe 4 of the new 600hp, V12 Mercury Verados for a 2,400 total hp would be better for the environment than equally performing inboards. We all need to do our part and reducing recreational boating fuel down to 500 gallons per day is a good start. Saving the planet 1 gallon at a time. 🤔🚤
Just another reason NOT to visit California.
Yay! thanks
YES!
Yeah, you’d probably fit in better in Florida.
Who wouldn’t? Miami’s crime rate is the lowest its been since the 1930s!!! Increases in congressional representation coming and California’s DOOM LOOP continues to foster less congressional districts.
How do you lose congressional seats? OMG, that’s soooo funny. 😆😅😀😂🤣
Leave California.
Yup. Leave and don’t visit.
Agreed! Don’t understand all the hate from the envy and jealousy of Cali. What state y’all live in, lol. Beaches(swimming/surfing), mountains(hiking), snow(skiing/snowboarding), desert(4-wheeling), Redwood trees (natural wonder) and most certainly RV’ing/camping/glamping. From the Golden Gate Bridge to San Diego Zoo, Hollywood, Yosemite, Disneyland. Yes, the most visited “state” in the US, “you” won’t be missed one bit!
Old stat on most visited. That was 2018. According to Statista “When surveyed in 2022, it was found that Florida and New York were the two most visited states by adults in the United States”
Also, so many people are fleeing the state of California it lost a congressional seat.
As Joe Friday always said, “Just the facts, ma’am.”
Fact !
Maybe G13 can give us a 5 year old stat about the beauty of San Fran Fr***sho too. Before it entered a DOOM LOOP.
Look redhat, stay in your lane.
Kudos to Cummings for meeting high standards. Why not? As for CA, keep pushing for better air. Face it, we’ve done a great job of screwing up the environment for the last 150 years.
Drive to Arizona to buy your generator
And buy a Honda, or Yamaha, invertor generator. Much, much quieter, less vibration, and smoother. Oh, and cheaper, too.
an inverter is cheaper???
hahahahahahaha
than an Onan….