OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Victa 2-Stroke: Looks Like the End

G'day Norm and IHWS

That's great news Norm. My understanding is that Victa announced this to dealers
a couple of months ago, but this is the first I've heard of a public statement on
the matter.

It should be of no surprise, but these issues impact on more than just lawnmowers.
I have found two documents that have been helpful to me in understanding why
some two-stroke designs must go.

They are the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement prepared for the Environment Protection and Heritage Council in May, 2010. The second is a document of the comments made by Briggs & Stratton (Australia) in July, 2010.

I have attached both reports below, because they do make for some shocking and fascinating reading.

Currently, there are no national regulations in Australia that restrict emissions from non-road spark ignition equipment and engines. In contrast, national emission standards for motor vehicles have been in force since 1972.

The US introduced regulations for non-road spark ignition engines and equipment in 1995 and Europe established regulations in 2003. Australia has not been quick to act on this.

Some Facts & Statistics
Air pollutants emitted from non-road spark ignition engines and equipment include nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOC), carbon monoxide [CO], air toxics including benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particulate matter. These emissions result in direct health impacts, and some also contribute to indirect health impacts through the formation of ground-level ozone, an indicator of photochemical smog. These engines also produce emissions in addition to exhaust gases that can impact on water and soil quality. For example, carburetted two stroke engines can emit up to 30% of their fuel unburned into the water or atmosphere, and these high-emission engines are prohibited on some lakes in California.

For example, one hour of operation of a brushcutter certified to US standards produces around the same emissions of air pollutants as ten cars operated over the same period.

Garden equipment and recreational marine equipment are major contributors to urban non-road emissions of air pollutants. Figures 2.1 and 2.2 illustrate that the contributions of these combined sectors to urban non-road emissions of CO and VOC are 59% and 66%, respectively.





I know many members will be keen to read these docs from cover to cover.
The Briggs doc is 6 pages, the Report is 62 pages.