Reducing Air Pollution

The UK has the worst road pollution in Europe, according to a recent government report, with 95% of our cities exceeding the European Union limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This figure is almost double that of the next worst polluter, Germany, where 52% of cities exceed the limit, followed by Italy with 42%, France 21% and Spain 14%.

The report, by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), warns that the UK will face large fines for breaching the EU limit unless radical measures are taken; these include national road pricing and subsidies for electric cars. But are these measures the answer? Uneqivocally, no. Electric cars are still a long way from viability, and road pricing will not address the core emissions problem.

The Klarius Group has taken the lead in the campaign to reduce air pollution in the UK, by lobbying Government to introduce EU type-approval on catalytic converters and exhaust systems – which is mandatory across the rest of western Europe, hence their lower pollution figures.

Type-approval on catalytic converters and exhausts provides evidence that these components have been subjected to, and passed, a series of rigorous checks. It is a mark of quality, which means the system is at least as good as the original equipment design. As a result, not only is the system more likely to last longer, but it can also help reduce emissions, increase fuel efficiency and reduce noise pollution.

KLarius’ message regarding type-approval seems to have got through – but only as regards catalytic converters at this stage. The Government is moving to introduce a new law – hopefully in 2009 - that will make type approved catalytic converters mandatory on all UK vehicles registered after 1st January 2001. However, the Government currently has no plans to introduce type-approval for exhausts; so Klarius’ campaign will continue.

Pollution control for diesel engined vehicles

The Klarius Group’s commitment to reducing air pollution extends beyond cars into the diesel engines used in heavy trucks, buses, coaches, boats; and in industrial vehicle applications such as earthmovers, mobile cranes, generators and compressors.

Diesel engines give off 100- times more soot particles than petrol engines. As a result, they are responsible for approximately 40% of burnt fuel air pollution caused by harmful particles (PM10) and 75% of the pollution resulting from road traffic. Diesel engines also generate almost 20% of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the air and 26% of the NOx releases from road traffic.

Klarius’ Diesel Particle Filter (DPF) is a proven and economical technology which immediately improves the quality of exhaust gases from diesel engines by removing more than 90% of harmful particle matter: un-burnt hydrocarbons and carbon oxide (CO2) emissions. When supplemented by bio fuels, the DPF technology not only reduces pollutants but it also reduces, the generation of greenhouse effect gases.

When enhanced by the use of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) process, a technology employed by Klarius DPFs to reduce Nox emissions, the DPF technology is capable of reducing the regulated diesel emissions (CO2, HC, MP and Nox) to levels lower than those recommended by the Euro V standard.