Vehicle emissions
The South East Queensland Regional Air Quality Strategy notes that in addition to changing vehicle design, emissions can be greatly reduced by reformulating fuel types (such as reducing lead in petrol) or substituting other types. On hot days, the pollutants created by petrol vapour evaporating into the atmosphere contribute significantly to smog developing.
The department signed an agreement (Reduction in summer petrol volatility) with the oil industry in December 1999 to progressively reduce the vapour pressure of petrol sold in SEQ during summer for the next five years. Lowering summer petrol volatility will have no effect on the performance of motor vehicles, but will reduce emissions of smog-forming compounds by about 3000 tonnes per year.
Australian Design Rules (ADR) have been introduced by the Commonwealth Government under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act to require motor vehicles to meet emission standards.
Last updated: 28 November 2003