Aftermarket February 2023

Left: Diesel Deep Clean from Lucas Oil Products Legislative changes Looking ahead, according to BM Catalysts Commercial Director Mark Blinston, the sector needs to prepare for changes to the diesel market: “Diesel vehicles remain a major part of the UK car parc, and when it comes to the second-hand market it goes without saying that regular servicing and maintenance is a must. “However, the aftermarket needs to look beyond these everyday expectations and take it one step further to ensure diesels can continue to be a viable option and remain integral to the UK car parc. We need to look at the topic on a broader scale and consider how the UK aftermarket can continue to meet legislative changes around emissions, which affect diesel vehicles in particular. The current UK MOT does not include emissions testing for diesel vehicles. The inspection as it stands only includes a smoke meter test, visual checks on smoke of any colour being emitted from the exhaust tailpipe, or for evidence that the DPF is present and has not been removed or tampered with. We’re now seeing legislative changes in countries such as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands in the way that they carry out periodic vehicle inspections on diesel vehicles. The method used allows them to accurately measure the particles that are emitted from the exhaust of diesel cars, commercial vehicles and trucks. It is designed as a more effective means to detect and remove from circulation diesel vehicles with manipulated, removed or damaged DPFs. “This is something that is now being discussed in UK government too, with the Westminster Commission for Road Air Quality (WCRAQ) gathering evidence to shape policy and improve legislation around the quality of air we breathe. The WCRAQ supports the All-Party Parliamentary 50 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2023 DIESEL www.aftermarketonline.net Group, which consists of MPs and peers who work together to promote measures to tackle poor air quality. Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield and one of the individuals who set up the commission, is a keen campaigner around the importance of updating the MOT test for diesel cars, specifically in the testing of DPFs and proposed a Ten- Minute Rule Bill on the topic at the start of 2022. As is the case in the Netherlands, Barry Sheerman is arguing for the introduction of a DPF efficiency test during an MOT, to identify faulty DPFs emitting a high level of dangerous particulates, proposing for an emission limit to be set at 250,000 particles per cm3 in a bid to tackle air quality. The proposed Bill is evidence that the longevity of internal combustion engines is still considered, with the debate about clean running of diesel-powered cars set to intensify. It’s therefore essential that the whole aftermarket plays its part and prepares for any changes in legislation to stay ahead of the curve and ensure emissions are reduced as much as possible.” Mark continued: “As a company with strong export links, we are very interested in the legislation already in place in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and make continual investments to ensure we can go above and beyond to deliver the highest- quality hot-end emission control products throughout the European aftermarket. Despite the 2030 legislation, which will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK, edging ever closer, vehicles with internal combustion engines will still have a considerable life even after they can no longer be sold as new.” He added: “It’s important that the UK considers introducing more appropriate emissions testing for diesel vehicles, including advanced particle measurements. No official plans to adopt the legislation being rolled out in other countries have been formally introduced – yet.” Above: NGK glow plug