That’s two car emissions consultations inside seven days.
The Department for Transport has launched its second car emissions consultation in a week with a document looking into Euro5 tailpipe standards.
New cars currently have a legal requirement to meet Euro4 emission standards. The new consultation is designed to look into the setting of much tougher Euro5 emission standards.
Although the consultation does not mention a start date for Euro5, it does make the point that after the regulations have been approved it is expected it will take a further 18 months to four years for the standard to become compulsory.
The Government also commented that it broadly supports the EU proposals, which include an 80% cut in soot particulates for diesels plus smaller cuts in hydrocarbon emissions and oxides of nitrogen.
The regulations on particulate matter also include a clause to cover not only the amount of soot (in weight) but also the number and size of the particulates. This would in effect make soot traps a standard requirement on all diesels.
The closing date for submissions is December 8, 2006. See our link to the DfT’s consultation site for more info.