Emissions

Decreasing world-wide pollution from lawn, garden, and other maintenance equipment has become a challenge in the developed countries. New regulations have been established in many different countries, but the Californian Air Resources Board has pioneered the leading policy with significant results. Although small engines comprise today only one percent of California's air pollution inventory, federal and state mandates for clean air by 2010 compel every source to reduce air pollution as much as is economically and technologically possible.
Three main regulations (CARB, EPA and future EU) have to be explained, in order to understand the tremendous effort of Honda to convert and adapt all the power products.

CARB

The Californian Air Resources Board was the first in the world to regulate off-road engines less than 25HP in December 1990, setting implementation dates of January 1995 for Tier 1 standards and January 2000 for Tier 2 standards. CARB only applies in the state of California.

CARB 95 Tier 1

Engines less than 25HP. Two classes of engines according to displacement for non hand-held, three classes according to displacement for hand-held. Exhaust emissions (HC + Nox) reduced by 20%.

CARB 2000 Tier 2

From 2000 to 2010. Engines less than 25HP. Four classes of engine according to displacement and diesel engine added. Emissions (HC + Nox) reduced by 30 to 67% according to the engine class. New endurance test from 50 to 500 h according to the engine class (3000 h for diesel).

CARB 2005 Tier 3

From 2005 to ... . Main change from Tier2 is the classification change. There is an additional regulation for "Evaporative emissions" : Until Tier2, CARB regulated exhaust emissions regarding off-road engines. However, from Tier3, Evaporative emissions would come into effect. Tier3 will again be more severe on regulation value.

EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the specialist federal agency created by the US administration. EPA regulations apply in the US.


CARB 95 Tier 1


From 1997. Almost the same as CARB regulations. Five classes of engine according to displacement and usage style (hand-held or non hand-held).


CARB 2000 Tier 2


From 2001. Almost the same as CARB regulations (except added regulation according the output). Five classes of engine according to displacement. New endurance test from 250 to 1000 h according to the engine class.

 

EU regulation

The EU emission regulations for non-road gasoline engines below 25 HP have been published by the EU Commission as from February 2003.

EU Stage 1

Implementation of stage 1 will take place in 2004 with seven classes of engine according to displacement and usage style (handheld or non-handheld).

EU Stage 2

Implementation from 2004 for some non-handheld engines less than 100 cc, other engine classes will follow from 2006. All types of products will have to comply by 2011.


Honda’s entire line-up of petrol general purpose engines already meets today the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Phase 2 emissions levels and the EU Stage 2 emission levels which are currently the most stringent emissions standard in the world.

All of our Class 1 (100-225 cc) engines complied already with EPA Phase 2 and EU Stage 2 emission levels 7 years prior to the deadline to comply. All the Class 2 (over 225 cc) engines will satisfy the standard 6 years ahead of the requirement.

Non-road engine emission regulation schedule (> 100cc/< 19kW (25 HP)) 
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