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Press
Releases - 1997 (July - December)
New
Device to Test Vehicle Smoke Emissions
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) will adopt a more effective device
to test smoky vehicles during a three-month pilot scheme starting
next month.
During
the pilot scheme, a chassis dynamometer will be used to test
light duty diesel vehicles of 5.5 tonnes and below that are
caught smoky and have been reported repeatedly for emitting
excessive smoke in the past six months.
Acting
Principal Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Mok Wai-chuen,
said today (Thursday) that the pilot scheme could help EPD
evaluate the feasibility of adopting the new test in the smoky
vehicle control programme.
"It also
allows the transport trades and the vehicle service trades
to get first hand experience of the new method."
"If the
pilot scheme is successful, we intend to extend the new method
to test all light duty vehicles."
A smoke
test done with a chassis dynamometer is better than the current
testing method because it can simulate on-road loaded conditions
during the test.
"Vehicles
not properly maintained will not be able to pass the new test.
Hence it can help ensure that vehicles are properly repaired
and tuned to prevent smoke emission," Mr Mok said.
The department
is planning to conduct a similar pilot scheme next year for
diesel vehicles over 5.5 tonnes.
Thursday,
July 31, 1997
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