How can you lower your emissions for the LEZ?

[400bandit]

Hey all, my dad owns a 2001 DAF 85 and this new LEZ (Lower Emission Zone) looks like it could give his business a swift kick in the spuds. If he needs to buy a catalytic converter it will cost him around 5 thousand pounds or he will face a 200 pounds a day fine for going pretty much anywhere inside the M25. That means he can't even go to his house in it and we live in Kent!

Anyway my question to you is as follows, is there anything that you can add or suppliment to his fuel to lower his emissions to get through the VOSA test?

The whole subject of what lorry is ok to go in the LEZ and what isn't is a very grey area and know one seems to know, even VOSA themselves, transport for londons website is very contradictory too

His lorry is serviced without fail and always kept top notch so it may well be clean enough as it is but anything that might help will always be a plus.

I personally think that this LEZ is crazy and is going to effect alot of people, and companies are really going to feel the strain.

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[owdamer]

In the words of Gordon Brown
"For Britain, 2008 will be a year of real and serious changes.

With important legislation making long-term changes in energy, climate change, health, pensions, planning, housing, education and transport, 2008 will be a year of measurable changes in public services."

Or in Plain english. Cough up & shut up.

[Nb]

When you say get through the vosa test, are HGV'S not smoke tested when they are mot'd? Or is this tests limit even lower than the mot one.
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Colin1 wrote 'Im grateful for what i can get, which isnt all that much.'
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Is it a test or just compliance with a theoretical certain standard? If the second then likely not much can be done.

It does sound like a really dodgy scheme.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[400bandit]

First of all...

"Or in Plain english. Cough up & shut up. "

- Are you being serious?

With regards to the actual test, it's all very confusing tbh. There is a emissions test that is taken at every MOT, however to gain your RPC (Reduced Pollution Certificate) you need to take your lorry to a VOSA test station to be tested again. There doesn't seem to be a set standard either. Even when contacting VOSA over the phone they pretty much just say we are not sure, buy a catalytic converter.

It really is a bad scheme and it's going to have huge effects, my dads business isn't doing all that great and so to have 5 thousand pounds taken out of a years sallary, thats a lot. When it will really kick up a fuss is when the next stages come in and effect people with motor caravans and the like, all the old couples in london will not be able to move theirs unless they buy a similar catalytic converter. I think that if the government want to just bring in schemes like this they need to subsidise it, people like my dad will get hit hard, he's just a one man band at the end of the day. Just another example of our government discouraging small business

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Kickstart]

Hi

[scootabk]

Can't beleive they brought in LEZ and no-one in the south of england seems to be complaining about it
In 2 days time it will affect lorries. In 2 years time this will affect vans!

Unfortunatly I can't offer much specfifc advice 400bandit. If you haven't already you can check the vehicle's complience at https://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/vehicles/2539.aspx . Also do loads of searches on google, youtube etc I'm sure there was some vids about taxis that fitted the magic converter box and it made the smoke worse!

[400bandit]

Same here, I can't believe know one really put up a proper fight against this, people just suffer it, madness

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Phoenix]

The way I understand the LEZ, is that any HGV that meets Euro 3 emissions standards is eligble to enter the LEZ.

Euro 3 is the pass mark for the LEZ, it's just an emissions standard they've decided on, a lot of modern trucks are already equipped with Euro 3,4 and 5 engines, it's the older ones that are going to run into problems, however apparently some Euro 1 and 2 engines may still pass Euro 3 standards, others will need new particulate filters and catalysts adding.

However as you have a 2001 DAF 85, I would think the engine is Euro 3 compliant so should be able to pass the test. The test is conducted by VOSA and can be done seperately or at the same time as the vehicle's MOT. If the engine in your DAF is Euro 2 or older then you'll just have to either get it tested and see if it passes anyway, or get it fitted with one of these catalysts. Saw an advert for a company called Eminox today, they're also listed on the LEZ website, they list the DAF 85 as a model they cater for.

The whole thing is a bit random in terms of why go for the Euro 3 standard specifically, but then they have to set the bar somewhere or it's just a waste of time, problem is it's gonna hit smaller businesses with their smaller profits more than the big ones, which have modern fleets which get regularly updated regardless of new schemes like this.

Company I work for has no issue with it as the entire fleet is already Euro IV compliant bar a few older scanias and mercs, which are possibly Euro III engines anyway so it makes no odds to them, big company, big profits, no problem. Family company, no financial sense in upgrading to new trucks just for the sake of it has a big problem as it need expensive modifications or a new bunch of trucks just to comply with some new emissions regulations.

Our trucks also have Adblue now as part of the Euro IV emissions reduction system. I know it works by spraying a Urea mix into the exhaust gases and alongside the catalyst reduces the emissions. I've no idea if it's possible to retrofit older trucks with Adblue systems?

[400bandit]

Well this is it, my dad started out with £12,000 loan which he said was for a car and from there in 7 years he's progressed to a £60,000 lorry which is not bad going for someone who has no education at all and jus simply works bloody hard. That's the problem with having a plant lorry with a crane they are so bloody expensive. His was registered a few days before the October the 1st (2001) cut off, bummer.
On the list of what can and can't meet the standard there's two types of his engine, the only difference beign a fuel pump. One says it will pass and the other says it doesn't, then in I found a case study on the transport for london website that clearly states that ANY engine on that list will pass. So my dads just going to book it in and give it a go.

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[owdamer]

[stinkwheel]

Or hows about this for an idea?

Nodody take any lorries inside the M25, let the fuckers starve to death.

On a different note. I wonder if the system that is usually used to provide compressed air for the brakes could be temporarily re-routed to 'ventilate' the exhaust system?
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[cagiva gezzer]

So all these london busses pass the standard?
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[Itchy]

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