Emissions

Decreasing world-wide pollution from lawn, garden, and other maintenance equipment has become a challenge in the developed countries. New regulations have been established in many different countries, but the Californian Air Resources Board has pioneered the leading policy with significant results. Although small engines comprise today only one percent of California's air pollution inventory, federal and state mandates for clean air by 2010 compel every source to reduce air pollution as much as is economically and technologically possible. Three main regulations (CARB, EPA and future EU) have to be explained, in order to understand the tremendous effort of Honda to convert and adapt all the power products. CARB The Californian Air Resources Board was the first in the world to regulate off-road engines less than 25HP in December 1990, setting implementation dates of January 1995 for Tier 1 standards and January 2000 for Tier 2 standards. CARB only applies in the state of California. CARB 95 Tier 1 Engines less than 25HP. Two classes of engines according to displacement for non hand-held, three classes according to displacement for hand-held. Exhaust emissions (HC + Nox) reduced by 20%. CARB 2000 Tier 2 From 2000 to 2010. Engines less than 25HP. Four classes of engine according to displacement and diesel engine added. Emissions (HC + Nox) reduced by 30 to 67% according to the engine class. New endurance test from 50 to 500 h according to the engine class (3000 h for diesel).   EPA The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the specialist federal agency created by the US administration. EPA regulations apply in the US. CARB 95 Tier 1 From 1997. Almost the same as CARB regulations. Five classes of engine according to displacement and usage style (hand-held or non hand-held). CARB 2000 Tier 2 From 2001. Almost the same as CARB regulations (except added regulation according the output). Five classes of engine according to displacement. New endurance test from 250 to 1000 h according to the engine class.   Future EU regulation US-EPA regulations could form the basis for future requirements in the European Union. Implementation of stage 1 is not expected before 2002. Stage 2 could start as from 2005 with a gradual phase in. All types of products would have to comply by 2010. Honda's entire world-wide line-up of gasoline general purpose engines will meet the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Phase 2 emission levels - the most stringent emission standard in the world - set to go into effect in 2007. When completed, all of our Class 1 (100-225 cm3) engines will meet EPA Phase 2 emission levels six years prior to the required compliance date while all the Class 2 (over 225 cm3) engines will satisfy the standard four years ahead of the requirement