Green engines use loopholes
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B Most engine manufacturers are taking advantage of legal loopholes designed to reduce emissions, according to the fleet engineer of a major distribution company.
Speaking al Westminster City Council's conference on emissions, Tesco Distribution's Keith Powell said while engines put forward for the Government's reduced pollution certification were clean in some areas, many were dirtier than engines with after treatment in others.
He told delegates: "What these vehicle manufacturers have done is seen a loophole in the legislation and driven a coach and horses through it."
Conference chairman and London mayoral hopeful Steven Norris echoed Powell's sentiments, asking whether the Government had thought the RPC offer through.
The Department of Transport's Zina Etheridge said that the scheme was under review but sounded a more positive note on the future of rebates for engines with after treatment like continuously regenerating traps. Keith Holland of Lex Transfleet asked if the Government would continue to offer the rebate in future years so operators could see a return on investment. Etheridge said: "The Government is fully aware of the proper payback period,"—an answer translated as "yes" by Norris.
He also questioned the worth of roadside testing of emissions undertaken by Westminster City Council, saying they merely duplicated MoT
procedures and strained already stretched resources.
Although the accuracy of roadside testing has been cast in doubt, council officers revealed none of the 274 trucks stopped in a year of checking had failed, while 9% of the 3,397 cars they examined were not up to the grade.
Closing the conference, Norris said: "I think we are all facing some very difficult political decisions which the public really hasn't considered at all."