Tough emission rules for new cars

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Tough emission rules for new cars
Andrew Heasley
June 11, 2011
THE federal government is set to introduce tough emissions standards on new cars sold in Australia.

But it will be a costly exercise for the local industry to reach world standards.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese is due to announce changes to the Australian Design Regulations - rules governing standards for new cars - today.

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Emissions standards will be tightened gradually over the next six to seven years.

Local car makers say it will be expensive to modify engine and exhaust systems to meet the tougher standards, especially without government assistance. The government's $1.3 billion Green Car Innovation Fund stopped taking submissions in January.

Petrol and diesel engine emission standards will shift from the Euro 4 emissions standard now, to Euro 5 in 2013, and then to Euro 6 by 2018.

The government says the new standards will improve the air we breathe.

Under Euro 6 standards, exhaust pipe emissions of hydrocarbons will be cut by 50 per cent, nitrogen oxides by 70 per cent and soot (particulate matter) by 90 per cent.

The government estimates cleaner air could save $1.5 billion in public health costs over the next two decades.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry said the industry supported the move to the cleaner emissions standards.

''We don't want to become a dumping ground for second-rate product,'' chief executive Andrew McKellar said.

Car makers had been consulted, he said, and would have time to resolve investment requirements before the regulations come into place.

The end of the Green Car Innovation Fund would not stop industry from talking to government about investment requirements, he said.

''Wherever you go around the world, there is some co-investment between industry and government in the car industry

[Polyal]

I dont know why local cars have to meet world standards (eco).

Im not against making them more friendlier...but they are basically for our consumption only. So until that changes why push it?

This is like the automotive version of the Carbon Tax.

[Road_Warrior]

The jump from E4 to E5 isnt that bad - it will hit diesels and direct injection petrol engines hard though.

As for E6...ergh. Looks like from 2018 we'll all be relegated to Priuses (Prii?)

[Polyal]

I wonder if they consult any engineering firms, auto manufacturers etc during the decisions on the target. Industry will always fight against it from a cost perspective but still, 50% down by 2018....

I mean its doable, but jeez.

Its a damn good time to buy a performance car now!

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Its a damn good time to buy a performance car now!

This. Enjoy the renaissance while it's here, fellas. The party will be over soon.

[Wretched]

I don't see it all doom and gloom.
How many other changes have been introduced and people say it is the end of performance cars?
The manufacturers have enough time, 2 years for Euro5 and 7 years before Euro6. I'm confident that they'd be able to comply to these standards and be able to build exciting cars.

I personally am all for introducing these standards here. It gives the "local" manufacturers a standard to build to and compare against cars from other parts of the world. Of course they can still milk the government for more $$ from the green fund.

[MAV50L]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

This. Enjoy the renaissance while it's here, fellas. The party will be over soon.

Nope it wont. Look at what they have now with the supercharged GT. Something that is fairly clean , goes like stink and not too bad on the running costs.
Everyone thought performance was dead when Ford couldnt just whack a 780 Holley on the Clevo anymore. If the market still demands it performance will still be available.

[jpd80]

I recall Holden saying that the Alloytec 3.6 and now the SIDI V6 Twins already meet Euro 6.
It's not that hard for US, Euro and Japanese auto makers to meet Euro 6
in petrol engines because US Tier 2 Bin 5 for petrol engines is tougher than Euro 6.
Diesels will suffer badly, they need expensive exhaust after treatment to comply to euro 6 or US Tier 2 Bin 5.....

Ford and Holden will go cap in hand for funds to comply engines when their corporates already have versions
of petrol engines that comply to the tougher regulations....absolutely farcical

[MAV50L]

Also if the Australian market is forced to pull in line with the rest of the world as far as emissions goes we might actually be able to put our products up on the world stage and start exporting.
The government needs to assist the changes financially but not just for the environment side. This might be the kick in the rear the australian car market needs to build a world standard car on all levels that is appealing to a market wider then just ours. It might just save Australian car manufacturing.

[Polyal]

They make the decision to go outside Australia long before that.

If the Falcon was to be exported before 2015/16 then yeah, meet all the requirements you have to...but at the moments its exports are very small.

They have to meet emissions because the Aus government is on a crusade to save the world because we are such an evil society. Im not saying stick a Clevo back in the thing but there is a limit, I mean at the moment the Falcon is as good as dead in 5 years, yet they are going to spend how much to make sure it keeps some flower growers happy?

[Road_Warrior]

I guess none of us has a crystal ball so it will be hard to say exactly where the market (and by virtue of that, manufacturers) will go. The numbers for Euro VI don't look that bad at first glance, but diesels are going to have a problem:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europea...sion_standards

[mik]

a better way of getting less pollution would be to make modern already clean cars cheaper for lower payed worker rather than make them further out of reach., another $1000.00 dollars on the price of a new car..... needed like a hole in the head.

[flappist]

Maybe it would be an idea to scrap ADRs completely and just used the euro standard.

[GT-E]

My new CRD Jeep is already Euro5. I wonder if we will see increases in Rego for cars that do not comply with certain standards. It would be a very easy target for our governments to tax us for owning a higher poluting car.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by flappist

Maybe it would be an idea to scrap ADRs completely and just used the euro standard.

ECE harmonization is well under way, I think where discrepancies occur with vehicle wiring and such,
ADRs should be deferring to ECE regulations instead of reinventing the friggin' wheel all the time...

[Resurrection]

I don't understand the need for this new legislation. In the last 10 years Australian cars have made significant improvements and now comply with the Euro IV emissions requirements. Euro V which is being finalised for Australia will make further improvements.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I don't understand the need for this new legislation. In the last 10 years Australian cars have made significant improvements and now comply with the Euro IV emissions requirements. Euro V which is being finalised for Australia will make further improvements.

All that's basically being proposed is a timetable for the introduction of Euro 5 and 6,
the reason for the lag versus Europe is to let them be the technology loss leaders
and Australia will wait until the emissions gear is in full production and made cheaper..

[drew`SEVNT5]

Stop your bitching... Heavy Trucks have been Euro5 since 01/01/11, some using EGR with Particulate Cats or Oxidizing Cats ; or with SCR (AdBlue)

Euro6 product is already starting to roll out in Europe...


The sky isn't falling... If cleaning up emissions means we get to keep our petroleum powered cars longer, before the inevitable switch across to whatever fun-sapping idea wins the power war next, I am all for it...

Infact, it has always baffled me as to why trucks & buses have to make the jump across to the higher emissions standards first? Why not all at once?

[ray38l]

What is the end goal of ever stricter emission laws? Have government's stated where it will end?
The only logical outcome of it is the death of the internal combustion engine

[mik]

Originally Posted by ray38l

What is the end goal of ever stricter emission laws? Have government's stated where it will end?
The only logical outcome of it is the death of the internal combustion engine

your probably right , govco does`nt have do a thing except continue making them cost more and more (a practice they are excellent at ! ) until only the rich can afford them.

[Road_Warrior]

And yet on the other hand, the government is exploring ways to reform fuel and road tax because of Australians moving to more fuel efficient cars, cutting the government's revenue from excise...

[BigCav]

1.5 billion dollars saved in public healthcare because of dirty air?

where in australia do we get dirty air like china etc?

[sudszy]

Originally Posted by mik

your probably right , govco does`nt have do a thing except continue making them cost more and more (a practice they are excellent at ! ) until only the rich can afford them.

yeh motoring enthusiasts carried on about how the sky was going to fall in when leaded petrol was banned too.

The quest for less and less emissions is 'moving forwards", perhaps some of you aren't old enough to realise even cities such as melbourne and sydney had terrible smog problems in the 70s and 80s due to auto exhausts. Now there is basically four times as many vehicles on the road and smog is almost a thing of the past.....if we got rid of carbon belching diesel trucks.

[ray38l]

Originally Posted by sudszy

yeh motoring enthusiasts carried on about how the sky was going to fall in when leaded petrol was banned too.

The quest for less and less emissions is 'moving forwards", perhaps some of you aren't old enough to realise even cities such as melbourne and sydney had terrible smog problems in the 70s and 80s due to auto exhausts. Now there is basically four times as many vehicles on the road and smog is almost a thing of the past.....if we got rid of carbon belching diesel trucks.

car makers have adapted to emission control in the past but could they adapt to the end of the internal combustion engine?
Each euro standard is getting stricter so common sense says its going to get to a point that normal engines won't be able to pass.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by ray38l

car makers have adapted to emission control in the past but could they adapt to the end of the internal combustion engine?
Each euro standard is getting stricter so common sense says its going to get to a point that normal engines won't be able to pass.

If it got to that point, governments would find the Euro standard to become counter productive as the costs to implement (and therefore purchase) would be prohibitive and people would start shying away from new cars, keeping their older "dirtier" vehicles.

Maybe.

[Franco Cozzo]

exhaust pipe emissions of hydrocarbons will be cut by 50 per cent, nitrogen oxides by 70 per cent and soot (particulate matter) by 90 per cent.

Isn't this what a Catalytic converter does? Turns all the other crap into carbon dioxide or something.

I guess it will be good because it'll push manufacturers towards their cars using less fuel, less fuel, less emissions right? Could be a good thing.

Also probably means that crap they have on the latest diesels will become standard, mine already has a particulate filter with some fluid that goes in it or something.

[Ford Falcon XR6]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

If it got to that point, governments would find the Euro standard to become counter productive as the costs to implement (and therefore purchase) would be prohibitive and people would start shying away from new cars, keeping their older "dirtier" vehicles.

Maybe.

I could definetly see a Higher tax/rego fee on older so called Dirtier vechiles i belive that they already have that sort of system in place in parts of europe

[sudszy]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I guess it will be good because it'll push manufacturers towards their cars using less fuel, less fuel, less emissions right? Could be a good thing.

.

Well that's how its worked for the last 25 years or so. we'd still be seeing v8s slurping around with 20L/100km+ figures unless manufacturers were forced to address the unburnt HCs by putting O2 sensors in etc and make the carby obselete.

[sudszy]

Originally Posted by ray38l

car makers have adapted to emission control in the past but could they adapt to the end of the internal combustion engine?
Each euro standard is getting stricter so common sense says its going to get to a point that normal engines won't be able to pass.

Common sense says that governments keep raising the bar to improve the way of life in cities, of course they have technical advisors on whether the goals they set/standards are achieveable.

Whether they go as far as setting the rules so high so that only running an internal combustion engine on hydrogen could achieve it, dont know, there will still be issues with NOx even on hydrogen.

Personally, if the internal combustion engine goes the way of the dodo bird for my daily ride, couldnt care less.

Its inefficient, heavy, bulky, noisy, maintenance hungry.......compare with an electric motor for similiar output.

[jpd80]

One question for all the bright sparks, If we could completely replace petrol, diesel
and LPG with electricity, what would the government tax to replace lost revenue?

Work that one out and tell me what all of you think...

The more things change, the more they stay the same.....