4 Tested and Trusted Best CARB Compliant Generators 2022

One of the major issues plaguing the world is the declining quality of air due to air pollution. To be honest, in the face of the worsening effects of global warming, everyone should attempt to limit their carbon footprint. Wondering how you can do that? Find the best CARB compliant generators instead of the regular ones. 

Generators are essential in our day-to-day life. They maintain an uninterrupted power supply to our home and the devices we need the most. Yet, they emit harmful gas, which causes air pollution and other dangerous effects. CARB compliant generators, on the contrary, provides clean power which is safe for the environment. 

Here you have a list of the best CARB compliant generators reviewed after a detailed inspection. We have also included a buyer’s guide to take you through our selection process. Provided you are ready, let us first know a bit about what CARB compliant means. 

List of 4 Tested and Trusted Best CARB Compliant Generators 2022

CARB is the acronym of the California Air Resources Board. Based in California, CARB is an environmental protection agency working to reduce air pollution by effective methods to improve public welfare, health, and overall ecological well-being. 

So, what is CARB compliant? Being CARB compliant means that your device meets all the carbon emission standards set by the California Air Resources Board. CARB guidelines ensure that the generator produces less harmful emissions, particles, and toxins which may lower the air quality. 

It leads to a better surrounding air environment. CARB compliance is a must when it comes to using generators in California. A lot of other states in the US also follow such standards. You can check the number of states following CARB emission standards from here. 

If you are from any of these states, you need to adhere to these strict CARB guidelines whenever purchasing a generator. On that note, here is the list of all the finest CARB complaints generators that you can buy today! 

#1. Best Overall: Westinghouse WGen7500 Portable Generator

If you are looking for something big- that can power multiple appliances in your home, Westinghouse WGen7500 Portable Generator is the best choice on the list. It is the best quiet portable generator with an electric start.

Westinghouse is a popular generator brand selling its products all across the globe. This generator is both CARB and EPA compliant. Hence, you will face no trouble using it. 

It houses a powerful 420cc Westinghouse 4-Stroke OHV Engine that can produce 7500 running and 9500 peak watts power. It also features Keyfob control, which lets you start the machine remotely from a distance. 

In terms of durability, the WGen7500 portable inverter generator has a Long-Lasting Cast Iron Sleeve surrounding the engine. It has contributed to its durability and robustness. You also get a 12V battery charger along with the box. 

A 3-year limited service warranty backs Westinghouse WGen7500. However, the only big off of this generator is its price. The price is totally justifiable if compared to the features it has got. Yet, it is a bit too much if your requirements are not that high. 

We would suggest buying it if you can afford it. Westinghouse is a reputed brand, while WGen7500 is a powerful generator overall. 

What We Like:

• Powerful 440cc engine
• 9500-watt peak performance
• 11 hours of backup
• EPA and CARB compliant

What We Don’t Like:

• The price is a bit high

#2. Best Portable Generator: WEN 56200i Portable Generator

If your requirement isn’t too much, you can consider WEN56200i 2000 watts portable generator to be the Powermaster. WEN has been one of the industry leaders with its bright presence in the market since 1951. WEN56200i is a portable inverter generator that is both CARB and EPA III compliant. 

It hits the drum mostly because of its portability. At only 48lbs, the generator is probably one of the lightest in the market. It has a portable carrying handle for easy carrying. The yellow and black combination looks classy and attractive. Despite such a small design, WEN562000i still houses a 1-gallon fuel tank. 

Let’s talk about its performance now. This portable generator has a 79.7cc OHV 4-stroke engine which can produce 1600watt running and 2000watt peak power. On quarter load, this generator can provide 9.4 hours of power backup. 

One of the major benefits of such size and design is the quiet performance. It won’t break the silence of those peaceful nights or camping grounds, where you get to chill with your family and friends. WEN generators are also known for their parallel performance. You can connect another WEN generator with the parallel kit and enjoy an uninterrupted power supply if you want more power.

You also get the ECO-Mode, which, if enabled, automatically adjusts fuel consumption to prolong the engine life and run-time. WEN56000i is also suitable and safe to power sensitive devices, such as mobile phones. 

In our test, we didn’t find any issue with the performance at all. Also, the price tag seems justified. If you are looking for a CARB-compliant portable generator, it is definitely one of the best. 

What We Like:

• Lightweight and portable.
• EPA and CARB compliant.
• Quiet performance.
• Best for campground and RV.
• Safe to power sensitive devices.

What We Don’t Like:

• There is nothing such significant 

#3. Best Whole House Generator: DuroMax XP12000EH Generator

If you are looking for the best whole house generator, Duromax XP12000EH is the one. Duromax does not require a separate introduction. It is another leading figure in this industry. Duromax XP12000EH is one of the brand’s durable and long-lasting giants designed to power larger appliances, RV, as well as sensitive devices. 

In terms of features, it has got a massive 457cc, 18HP DuroMax engine that can produce a tremendous amount of power. Before knowing the power-output numbers, you should know that this is a dual-fuel engine. It means that this generator can work on both gasoline and propane. 

While on gasoline, Duromax XP12000EH can produce 9500 running watts, while the starting watts stand at 12000. On propane, you get 9025 running and 114000 starting watts. This much energy is sufficient enough to power a 2000 sq ft home. The generator has an 8.3-gallon gas tank and can run for 9 hours- on a 50% load- on gasoline. 

In terms of design and durability, the generator does have a superior build. Since it is a heavy-duty machine, you can’t expect it to be light. Yet, the wheels and handles make it a bit smoother to move. It generates 73 dbA running sound- an acceptable noise reading for such machines. 

A 3-year residential warranty also backs DuroMax XP12000EH along with a 1-year commercial. You can power heavy-duty machines, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, as well as sensitive devices like smartphones, watches, etc. 

What We Like:

• Heavy-duty 457cc engine
• Dual-fuel engine
• 9 hours power backup on gasoline
• 7 hours power backup on propane
• Perfect for 2000 sq ft houses

What We Don’t Like:

• Very costly.
• A bit noisy.

#4. Peaceful Performer: Honda EU2200i

Honda is a renowned manufacturer of electronic goods with its branches spread all across the globe. Anyone finding a good inverter generator would always peek into Honda’s basket. In doing so, we came across Honda EU2200i- a fabulous model from the brand. It is a CARB compliant model- perfect for use at home. 

Honda EU2200i is a gasoline generator with a 0.95 gallons tank. At full capacity, this can provide up to 8.1 hours of backup on quarter load. It makes the generator a decent one for an overnight power supply. Furthermore, it features eco throttle, which automatically manages the engine speed depending on the load. 

One of the best things about this generator is its weight. At only 53.6 lbs, this is one of the lightest generators on the list. Moreover, the noise production level is between 48 to 57dbA, which is less than a normal conversation. Such a low noise level is quite a gift for camping, overnight RV supplemental power. 

In our opinion, this is the best quiet generator for RV. Due to its size may not be the most ideal for powering high-voltage devices, but it’s more than enough for lighter works. However, it supports a parallel connection to connect another identical Honda generator and max the power up to 4400 watts.

What We Like:

• Portable generator.
• 121cc engine with 2200watt power output.
• Easy to operate.
• Eco throttle for smart engine operation.
• Parallel connection supported.

What We Don’t Like:

• Nothing significant.

Criteria for Selecting the Best CARB Compliant Generator

Finding the best CARB compliant portable generator or standby generator is a job better said than done. If you have never had experience buying generators before, you may end up failing. We don’t want that for you. Criteria for Selecting the Best CARB Compliant Generator

All these generators on the list had to pass through certain criteria to make it to the list. Here is how to choose the best CARB compliant generator. 

1. Consider the Size

The size of a generator has a major role to play in this selection. First of all, the size determines the capacity of the generator—the bigger the size, the better the output. Big generators are needed to serve high power requirements and are known as whole house generators. 

On the other hand, smaller portable generators power multiple small sensitive devices or some big appliances- but not the whole household. Another point of considering the size is the available space of installation or the purpose of using it. 

For example, if you find a generator for camping or travel, a portable generator would seem to be a better deal. You can then go for the best quiet portable generator with an electric start, such as Westinghouse WGen7500 Portable Generator . 

So, before you buy any generator, it would be wise to calculate your power requirement first and then choose one. Later in this article, we have discussed how to calculate your generator’s size. 

2. Is the Generator Noisy?

Generators will always make noise. You can’t help with it. What you can do is search for one quiet generator for your home. Yet, not always will it live up to your expectations. Like, say you need to power multiple large devices, which increases your power requirement. A large generator such as DuroMax XP12000EH will always be noisy. 

Yet, this one makes a lot less noise as compared to its competitors. But, it won’t be as silent as Honda EU2200i. The main reason behind this is, of course, the power difference. While Honda EU2200i is a small portable generator used mainly to power one or some multiple small devices, DuroMax XP12000EH is a whole house generator. 

So, if your requirement is high, you will have to deal with noise. The only way out is checking the noise level and ensuring that it’s not too disturbing. Or, you will end up getting complaints from your neighbours. 

3. How Easy is Installation?

How easy do you think the installation is? If you are not a person with technical knowledge, you should be considering this a lot. While curating the models for this list, we were concerned enough to pick the ones with less complexity. Hence, most of these generators do not need any expert help to beat the drum. 

Yet, if you are on your own finding a generator, make sure to see how easily you can operate it. Does it have an electric start? How easy is the starting handle? Does it require a lot of plugins? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself. 

4. Fuel Type

You will get two types of generators as concerned with fuel type- Gasoline and Propane. In most cases, you have to pick either one. However, some generators can run on both these fuels. One such dual-fuel generator on our list is DuroMax XP12000EH. 

You can also find some cheap dual-fuel generators in the market. Make sure those are CARB compliant. The benefit of having such generators is that you don’t have to limit your options. You can also go for solar generators to save your carbon footprint. 

CARB Compliance

Of course, all the selected models are CARB compliant. We must participate in the fight against pollution with sustainable growth. CARB and EPA compliant devices produce clean and safe energy.

It is good for both our devices and for the environment. If you are going to get a generator even for your RV, always pick the best carb compliant portable generator. 

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Conclusion

Generators are probably one of the essential devices in our daily life. It protects us from those momentous sufferings without electricity by ensuring a sufficient power supply when we need it. Yet, these devices are also responsible for pollution. When your generator is CARB compliant, you can stay at peace knowing that it is not causing pollution. 

All the generators on this list are CARB compliant. They all come with superior features, making them the best in their price range. However, we found Westinghouse WGen7500 to be a little too exceptional. It has a great power output while still being one of the lightest. Also, the noise production level is low, and you can control it remotely as well.