EU announces crackdown on motorcycle exhaust gases

Plans to cut motorcycle exhaust gas emissions by up to 75% of their present level within four years were agreed in Brussels today.

New strict controls will apply to all new motorbikes and reflect growing concern that polluting emissions pumped out by two and three wheelers are rising much faster than for cars.

The European Commission predicts that by 2010 pollutants from two and three wheelers will account for 13.7% of the total, even though such vehicles will account for only two to 3% of traffic volume on Europe’s roads by then.

The aim is to cut damaging emissions by as much as 70% compared with today’s levels - a target which involves new type-approval testing for motorbikes and three wheelers.

The Commission said it is also keeping up its efforts to standardise its testing procedures for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions with the US and Japan.

The EU Enterprise Commissioner, Erkki Liikanen said: ‘‘We shall have cleaner air in our cities and fewer and less severe ozone problems in the summer. Over the last four years higher emission standards for new passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and heavy duty vehicles have been introduced in the EU. It is therefore appropriate that similar measures have today been introduced for two and three wheel vehicles.’’

He went on: ‘‘Two and three wheel vehicles offer choices for personal mobility and transport of goods primarily in and around urban areas, and the measures that have been agreed today will make a positive difference to the lives of European citizens.’’

A two-stage tightening of emission limits for motorbikes involves new type approval standards taking effect on April 1 2003, with tougher controls due from the start of 2006.