Exhaust emission test to combat pollution?

Press, 26 August 1982, Page 6

Exhaust emission test to combat pollution?

Experimental vehicle ex-haust-emission tests may start again in Christchurch as one way to battle air pollution. The Minister of Transport. Mr Gair. had said yesterday that he was “prepared to have a serious look" at including emission studies in local warrant of fitness testing. said the Canterbury United Council's acting chairman. Cr T. J. Brocherie.

Mr Gair had been "quite impressed" that getting rid of contributors to air pollution was a special problem in the Christchurch area. Legislation might be required to have emission-test-ing included in local vehiclefitness procedures. In the meantime. Mr Gair had said that continuation of the pilot study would be "a reasonable step." said Mr G. E. Marriner. the United Council's air pollution committee chairman. Mr Gair met united councillors on air pollution and

urban transport matters. He was impressed by the metropolitan approach to setting up clean air zones. In 1978. a special MotorVehicle Exhaust Emission Investigation Committee concluded that air pollution levels in congested, innercity areas during peak traffic'periods could be reduced up to 30 per cent if a list of recommendations were carried out.

These included testing vehicles “at idle" for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons during the warrant of fitness procedure. The first Christchurch pilot study was done in 1977, and showed that only 26 per cent of vehicles tested met standards that could be met by a well tuned Model T Ford. But a second study, conducted voluntarily about a year ago. showed a substantial improvement in the average state of engine tuning, both since 1977 and over the year-long test period.

When the latest pilot study was started. 35 per cent of the vehicles passed both emission tests, and 16 per cent failed both tests.

When the study finished in May, 1981, 51 per cent of the vehicles passed both tests, and 10 per cent failed them.

Funding of the study, under a Government special work scheme, was not renewed. United councillors told Mr Gair that the programme had been largely responsible for a big improvement in the state of vehicle tuning, and reduced air pollution and fuel savings, even though it had been voluntary.

Most vehicles which failed the tests required only minor maintenance or adjustments to meet emission standards. The investigation committee's original recommendations said that new vehicles should be exempted from emission test requirements until they had run in their engines over 5000 km.