Emissions Legislation

VVA improves legislated engine out emissions at source with no performance penalty.

Exhaust after-treatment systems also reduce emissions, but they increase fuel consumption and reduce performance.

VVA can affect engine performance with no side-effects.   It can improve:

• Emissions
• Fuel economy
• Performance
• After-treatment operation

Legislation Timeline

Current legislation puts tight controls on engine emissions. Fuel consumption is also constrained, albeit to a lesser extent.   The following is an overview of how emissions targets have changed since 1971:

• 1995 = 3% of 1971 levels.
• 2000 = 2% of 1971 levels.
• 2005 = 1% of 1971 levels.
• 2010 = 0.5% of 1971 levels (expected)

An approximate halving of emissions levels is anticipated at each successive round of legislation for the next 10 yrs.

Beyond 2015 it is likely that only CO2 levels will be subject to reducing legislated levels and will be covered by Fuel Economy legislation (EPA, CAFE, CARB etc).