Emissions from conventional motor vehicles are expected to significantly reduce over the next 10 years, matching the large reductions of the last 30 years.
These will be achieved by implementing new fuel standards to compliment revised vehicle emission standards (known as Australian Design Rules or ADRs).
Vehicle emission standards
Australia has a commitment to harmonise with the vehicle standards developed by the UN Economic Commission for Europe wherever possible.
The ADRs will progressively bring Australia's emission standards into line with European standards and have been introduced partly as a result of the RTA's representation on the Land Transport Environment Committee. The RTA is one of only three transport agencies with representation on this national body.
Two revised ADRs have come into recent effect:
- ADR 79/01 for new model light vehicles commenced in 2005.
- ADR 80/00 emission control for heavy vehicles commenced January 2003.
ADR79/00 sets Euro 2 emissions standards for light duty diesel vehicles (from 2003 these standards applied for petrol, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Natural Gas (NG) vehicles). ADR 80/00 sets Euro 3 emissions standards, for diesel, LPG and NG medium and heavy diesel vehicles.
More stringent emission control standards will follow:
- ADR 79/01 for all light vehicles will commence on 1 January 2006.
- ADR 80/01 for heavy vehicles will commence in 2006.
A summary of these standards can be found at www.dotars.gov.au/mve/emission_requirements.htm
Fuel standards
The introduction of Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 and Fuel Standard (Diesel) Determination 2001 from 1 January 2002 reduced sulphur levels in Australian diesel fuel from 1300 parts per million (ppm) to 500 ppm (since January 2003).
The sulphur content in fuel contributes to emissions of fine particles. Studies have linked particulate matter with serious health problems. Reducing the sulphur content in petrol and diesel is one way of limiting fine particle pollution.
From 2006 sulphur will be limited to 50 ppm representing a significant improvement in fuel quality resulting in significant reduction of particulate matter in vehicle emissions.
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