Klarius Responds to DEFRA Report

The UK has the worst road pollution in Europe, according to a recent government report, with 95 per cent of cities exceeding the European Union limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This figure is almost double that of the next worst polluter, Germany, where 52 per cent of cities exceed the limit, followed by Italy with 42 per cent, France (21 per cent) and Spain (14 per cent). While the report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs warns that the UK will face large fines for breaching the EU limit unless radical measures, such as national road pricing and subsidies for electric cars, are taken, exhaust system manufacturer Klarius firmly believes that the best solution would be to ensure the quality of exhausts and catalytic convertors fitted to the UK’s cars.

Pointing out that road pricing and electric cars are both costly and impolitic for re-election conscious politicians, Klarius argues that the fact that Germany has around half the pollution figure of that of the UK even though it has more cars there is down to mandatory type-approval on the exhaust systems and catalytic converters fitted to vehicles sold there, as well as in other countries with lower pollution levels: “Non-type approved exhausts and catalytic converters pollute the environment and damage fuel efficiency and they are routinely being supplied in the UK aftermarket, and, at the moment, it is still legal to do so.”

According to the manufacturer, the government has said it might change the law on CATs this year, but there are no plans to make type-approval for exhausts law, even though the EU requires it. The company would welcome the change, since it would curb the popularity of cheap low quality replacement products commonly being used at present. Klarius alleges that many of these products have been analysed and found to contain little of the precious metals required to convert harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions.

The manufacturer continues in its press release on the matter, “UK MOT tests are being singled out as the reason why this situation is able to continue. Some vehicles with petrol engines in good tune and with a short, straight-through exhaust will pass a standard UK emissions test, so one with an ineffectual CAT can also get through.

“The first indication the user gets that his new CAT is useless is when – after just a few week’s – the onboard diagnostics (OBD) usually trigger a malfunction indicator light (MIL) to appear on the dashboard. The only remedy then is replacement, even though the CAT may be a new one. However, getting a replacement without additional cost could also be a problem for the user, as some cheap CATs will pass an MOT type emission test, but the MIL stays lit, frustrating the motorist.

“The problem with non-type approved exhausts is a longer term one, because the Government is not proposing to do anything about it. Type-approval provides evidence for a customer that the exhaust system he/she is buying has been subjected to, and passed a series of rigorous checks. It is a mark of quality, which means the system is at least as good as the original equipment design. As a result, not only is the system more likely to last longer, but it can also help reduce emissions, increase fuel efficiency and reduce noise pollution.”

This fuel efficiency claim, continues Klarius, has been proven in independent tests, undertaken on behalf of the company at the NAC UK’s Emissions Laboratory in Longbridge, Birmingham. The tests were conducted on an average family car; first with a Klarius Timax type-approved exhaust taken directly off-the-shelf. The vehicle was then subjected to fuel consumption drive cycles tests, using proven manufacturer test methods. The same tests were then repeated with none type- approved parts for comparison, and the results were analysed.

“The test showed that in all 3 drive cycle tests conditions, a non-approved exhaust caused the car to be less fuel efficient, by around 3.3%, and +1dB louder on the tail-pipe measurement.”

This inefficiency is leading to far higher levels of pollution on UK roads, the DEFRA report sites high population density and congestion, but with over 8 million older vehicles on UK roads, many of which are – according to Klarius – operating poor quality replacement exhausts, when those in Europe are all using type-approved exhausts, this has to play a significant role in the UK’s poor performance.

“The solution is simple, all the UK government needs to do is to implement the EU directive as law in the UK, which it is actually required to do, and the level of pollution will start to come down straight away, the UK fits 200,000 replacement exhausts every month, so they could be made cleaner overnight.”

“Seven or eight years ago a car would typically have three or four replacement exhaust systems during its life; today it may only have one – if it is a good quality type approved item. The consequence of this spread across millions of cars is massive: vast savings in raw materials and energy usage could be made – exactly what the planet requires to reduce carbon emissions – can be achieved by fitting a good type-approved exhaust. The downside is that the decision to fit a non-type approved exhausts could cause additional pollution by that car for most of its operating life,” concludes Klarius’ statement.

Timax exhausts are manufactured by Klarius in the UK and are all type-approved. They are constructed using corrosion- resistant aluminised steel throughout with a two-year warranty as standard.