Exhaust emissions from farm tractors operating in urban areas

Abstract

In urban areas, the most frequently operated type of vehicles are the on-road vehicles such as passenger vehicles and city buses. In many agglomerations (Berlin, Munich) zones have been introduced where only exhaust emissioncompliant vehicles are permitted. If they fail to meet the set standards for a given zone an appropriate charge is incurred. We should remember, however, that in city centers non-road vehicles are also used for specific work such as the maintenance of green areas. Unfortunately, these types of vehicles are fitted with engines that are technologically obsolete in comparison to modern on-road vehicles. Hence, the exhaust emissions from the non-road vehicles are far greater as compared to regular vehicles, which is confirmed by much more liberal emission standards for this group. This paper discusses this issue in detail and presents the results of the exhaust emission tests carried out under actual operating conditions (maintenance of green areas). In order to better depict the situation the results were compared with the exhaust emissions of passenger vehicles also obtained under actual traffic conditions.