|
Press
Releases - 1998
More
effective device to test heavy vehicle smoke emissions
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) is exploring new technologies
to further crack down on smoky vehicles by trying a more effective
device to test the emissions of heavy duty vehicles.
A three-month
pilot scheme will be launched from next Monday (November 16),
using a chassis dynamometer to test the smoke emissions of
vehicles over 5.5 tonnes reported to have emitted excessive
smoke.
Using
a similar device for light duty vehicles of 5.5 tonnes and
below has been proven effective during a pilot scheme conducted
last year. The Government has a plan to require using chassis
dynamometers for testing light duty vehicles as from mid-1999.
"With
the aid of a chassis dynamometer, we can test the smoke emissions
of a vehicle under real driving conditions. Unless a vehicle
is properly repaired, it cannot pass the smoke test," said
EPD's Principal Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Mok Wai-chuen
today (Saturday).
"The
use of a chassis dynamometer for light duty vehicle has already
been proven to be practical. Now we want to try using the
technology for heavy duty diesel vehicles," he said.
"Excessive
smoke emissions are caused by poor vehicle maintenance and
improper engine tuning.
"Making
the situation worse, some vehicle owners resort to tampering
with their vehicle fuel pumps to cheat in smoke tests instead
of having their vehicles properly repaired. As a result, these
vehicles will emit smoke again when the fuel pumps are reset
right after the test.
"However,
such vehicles could not pass the smoke test conducted by a
chassis dynamometer," Mr Mok said.
During
the pilot scheme, a vehicle failing to pass the test at the
Ho Man Tin Emission Testing Centre will be required to undergo
repair again and be retested until it passed.
Mr Mok
said the pilot scheme would also enable the relevant trades
to gather experience with this new method.
"If the
pilot scheme is successful, we will seek to introduce it as
soon as possible," he said.
End/Saturday,
November 14, 1998
|
