Australia in the slow lane on diesel danger

[nero_bolt]

Cant happen sooner enough as most diesels are dirty and smelly and spew out fine particles that are a major health hazard

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/australia-in-the-slow-lane-on-diesel-danger-20130426-2ik1k...

The rapid growth of diesel vehicles on Australian roads is becoming a health hazard and experts say very little is being done to address the problem.

Diesel has long been linked to serious health issues including cancer and respiratory diseases, but despite the warnings, Australia lags behind Europe in curbing emissions from diesel vehicles.

The number of diesel vehicles on the road has more than doubled since 2005, led by European diesel passenger cars and the rise in popularity of SUVs and one-tonne utes, which are predominantly sold in diesel form.

The European luxury cars have particulate filters that trap dangerous material inside vehicle exhausts, but many of the more popular Japanese utes and SUVs do not have this technolog

Health experts at a Senate hearing earlier this month said Australia had waited too long to adopt strict emissions laws and must address the ''urgent problem'' of diesel particulates.

A planned progression from Australia's current Euro 4 standard to the Euro 5 emissions standard will result in particulate limits dropping from 0.025g/km to 0.005g/km, but experts say the change could come too late.

Greens senator Richard Di Natale said emissions should be cut before the current deadlines.

''It's not acceptable to be waiting around for years when we have the technology to do that straight away,'' he said.

A Department of Infrastructure and Transport spokeswoman said while government standards ''do not mandate any particular technology'', particulate filters could soon be necessary for all new cars.

''We anticipate that virtually all diesel vehicles will require a particulate filter to meet the very stringent Euro 5 particulate emission limits,'' she said. ''The Euro 5 standards will deliver an 80 per cent to 90 per cent reduction in the allowable level of harmful particle emissions compared to the current Euro 4 standards.''

Australia will adopt the Euro 5 standard in November, less than a year before Europe adopts the Euro 6 standard.

But manufacturers will be allowed to sell Euro 4 vehicles until November 2016, putting many Australian cars two generations behind European products.

''We know that the ultra fine particles are a real problem … an urgent problem, and we need to do more,'' Steve Hambleton, federal president of the Australian Medical Association, said.

[lakeland27]

yes, its a problem.

but whats remarkable is the fact that you finally made a post of some value 🙂

congratulations.

[*mrgrizz*]

yes, its a problem.

but whats remarkable is the fact that you finally made a post of some value 🙂

congratulations.

so you two aren't friends?

but you both have the same thing over there..........what ever you call it:^O

[lakeland27]

so you two aren't friends?

but you both have the same thing over there..........what ever you call it:^O

its part of the battle, i have the real thing. nero has a fake.. used for the wrong reasons.:^O

[lakeland27]

seems fixed now, replaced by some slogan or other.

[*mrgrizz*]

oh I see

I got a diesel Ute

it is more economical than a petrol

I don't think it smells.

[lakeland27]

oh look, changed back again .

[carls*world]

I'm still puzzled as to why we're not pushing the LPG barrow much harder for passenger vehicles. Proper commercial vehicles on Diesel, fair enough, they benefit from the fuel's superior torque characteristics. But LPG in use here is mostly a home sourced product (maybe there's the problem? Not supposed to show hints of self sufficiency now are we?) , in abundant supply, a very low comparative pollutant, and with current technology in place, very nearly as efficient as petrol.

[lakeland27]

I'm still puzzled as to why we're not pushing the LPG barrow much harder for passenger vehicles. Proper commercial vehicles on Diesel, fair enough, they benefit from the fuel's superior torque characteristics. But LPG in use here is mostly a home sourced product (maybe there's the problem? Not supposed to show hints of self sufficiency now are we?) , in abundant supply, a very low comparative pollutant, and with current technology in place, very nearly as efficient as petrol.

you have to wonder. how suitable is all of this LNG for auto use ?

[*mrswormwood*]

We have 2 diesel , European, particulate filtered cars that we bought for fuel economy and environmental reasons.  I only fill my car once a month and drive heaps of kms.

The advantages of these cars are that they are very fuel efficient, low in emissions, only need servicing every 20,000 kms, and have great safety features.

I don't understand why there can't be global standardisation for emission control.