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DOT looks at traps for smoke control

8th December 1994
Page 4
Page 4, 8th December 1994 — DOT looks at traps for smoke control
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by Miles Brignall • Hauliers will face bills of £3,000 per truck if the Department of Transport forces them to retrofit a particulates trap to reduce harmful diesel emissions.

DOT chief mechanical engineer Malcolm Fendick says new technology makes legislation on traps a "viable option" in the Department's move towards lower emissions.

The Government has not yet responded to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution which called for LGVs to undergo more stringent emission controls.

But at last week's Freight Transport Association conference How Green is Your Transport Fendick said the DOT had no plans to bring retro-fitting of such devices in line with the Euro-2 emission standards in 1996: the cost of such an initiative has not been discussed. Current Euro-1 standard trucks, which will be two to three years old in 1996, would be the most likely candidates for the fitting of traps.

Particulate trap technology has developed fast over the past 12 months. Lincs-based manufacturer Eminox has produced a Continuously Regenerating Trap in conjunction with Johnson Mafthey that is said to filter out the most harmful emissions.

Catalysts and traps on LGVs have had problems in the past, particularly with high temperatures and weight penalties.

The Government has been under increasing pressure to cut down on emissions of particles measuring less than 10 microns— known as PM10—which are said to cause breathing problems.

Eminox claims its new device will cut PM10 emissions by more than 90%. The device is currently undergoing trials on buses in Cambridge. It runs at the same temperature as a standard exhaust and costs £3,000-.£4,000 to buy and fit.

Barnsley-based two-vehicle haulier John Harper dismisses the prospect of particulate traps: "Its just another £4,000 cost for us to bear," he says.


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