Brown Clouds Ahead
Clouds are part of Britain's rich climate tapestry and we're quite used to them, but a brown cloud, such as the particle cloud recently discovered hovering over most of South East Asia, is something new - and biking is partly to blame.
Alright, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, it's more down to wood-burning stoves, de-forestation and industry, but any vehicle that uses the internal (infernal according to environmentalists) combustion engine plays its part in polluting the atmosphere and the cruder the engine, the worse the pollution. So how's this affecting you as you blast along on your R1/Blade/ Peugeot Speedfight? Cats, that's what. Not the meow sort, but the catalytic converter sort.
Now although the BMF gets invited to all sorts of meetings, it didn't get an invite to the Johannesburg Earth Summit, but nevertheless, we're not immune from environmental matters, so here's something to be going on with.
No point getting paranoid over this one, but like cars, trucks and planes, all new bikes will now have to clean up their act so that they'll have to be quieter and cleaner in future, (like for 2003 future), and don't think you can avoid it by ripping off that great big silencer and sticking a race can on. When it comes to an MOT, not only will your bike have to pass a noise test, it will also have to pass an emissions test too. (Not to mention the latest roadside pollution sniffers, but that's another story)
The problem is that the petrol engines we love, produce not only power but carbon dioxide (CO2) which, while not a pollutant, is one of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. Our engines also spew out a range of noxious pollutants such as unburnt hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Smaller two strokes also produce particulates from partially burnt lubricating oil. Nice.
Great strides have been made with lean-burn technologies including variable valve timing, fuel injection and electronic engine management, but these have mainly been applied in the car world. Bikers, or at least the manufacturers, seem to concentrate more on ultimate performance. But the bell has at last been rung on our play time.
All powered two wheelers (PTWs), regardless of engine type, are now subject to emissions limits imposed under European Community legislation. (There are world standards to but we'll stick with Europe for now).
In fact, under 'EC Type-Approval for Motorcycles and Three-Wheelers', pollutant emission limits (Euro 1) were set for new models introduced from mid 1999, but these were but a gentle nudge. Most four-stroke machines have already achieved Euro 1.
But now an emissions directive has just been agreed by the European Parliament for Euro 2 limits (60% reduction) to be introduced from April 2003 with Euro 3 (a further 50%) following in 2006/7. This of course explains why Ducati, makers of booming V twins, have stuck not only a super-quiet silencer but also a catalytic converter on their gorgeous new 999. (Well they wouldn't do it out of choice would they?).
Interestingly, according to an Italian study, Euro 2 will achieve a 95% reduction of pollutants over those produced by unregulated vehicles while Euro 3 is intended to achieve emissions levels close to those currently required for new cars. Euro 2 limits should be readily achievable by more efficient fuel management systems, air injection and, in some instances, simple catalytic converters.
Some manufacturers even consider that Euro 3 limits can be met by similar methods, but closed-loop catalytic converters may be necessary bringing with them yet more weight and complex engine management systems..
So is this bad for biking? Well, because of its extensive use of precious metals, a cat is expensive and requires a fancy engine management system to function. This could affect small machine sales because it will increase costs and nullify the usual advantages of a low purchase price and frugal fuel consumption. For bigger machines it's less of a problem. After all, if a one litre cars can meet the limits, carry four people and do 60 to the gallon, it's difficult to object to a litre bike being so equipped, innit? Cars are more efficient (and faster) than ever, so bikes shouldn't suffer. In fact Suzuki's 1000cc V Strom already meets Euro 2 standards using such methods and its price and performance is in line with competitors.
Having said that, the BMF has made the point that the volume of emissions also depends on use, so a bike makes better progress through congested traffic and is therefore an inherently more efficient vehicle. Efficient use = lower emissions. This benefit has not been quantified but a comparison study is now underway.
In the face of environmental concerns, the 'do nothing' option is certainly a no no, so manufacturers are now developing systems which will allow engines to operate more efficiently, and that's what it's all about. For what we certainly have to accept is that the planet is for ever, not just for today.
Jeff Stone
BMF Media and PR Manager
For membership call: 0116 284 5390
email: membership@bmf.co.uk
or on-line: www.bmf.co.uk
