I
t has been an interesting couple of
weeks for yours truly. An opportunity
came up to replace my Ford Ranger
Wildtrak with a vehicle I’ve been coveting
for several years – a Toyota Land Cruiser 76
Series wagon.
As I drove out of the Toyota dealership
in my new truck, that old familiar feeling
came rushing back of being
in a very basic machine
with awesome
capability.
Despite all the great four-wheel
driving that I have done over the years,
the times behind the wheel of my first
4x4 always seem to have been the best.
I still miss my old Hilux bakkie with its
solid front axle.
The timing of this acquisition for
me is probably more significant than
the mere desire to own an old-school
classic 4x4. Engines like the V8 turbo
diesel in my new 76 are not likely to
survive the ever-increasing restrictions
being placed on vehicle manufacturers
regarding emissions for much longer.
Currently, one of the major factors
determining vehicle development is carbon
dioxide emissions. Global warming is a real
issue and vehicle pollutants are a significant
contributor to this.THERE IS A MANDATORY emissions data
sticker on the windscreen of my new wagon.
It states the amount of CO 2 emitted per
kilometre and fuel-consumption figures. My
vehicle is Euro 4 emissions compliant and
features a catalytic converter. The Cruiser is
certainly no fuel miser, and this prompted
me to investigate carbon dioxide emissions
as a matter of interest.
Interestingly, modern engines have
experienced a decline in fuel consumption
of around 0,5% per annum between 2000
and 2014 as stated by a recent study
published by The Journal of Energy in Southern
Africa. Car manufacturers are being forced
to make more fuel-efficient vehicles.
The most popular emissions data referred
to are greenhouse gas emissions. CO 2 is,
of course, one of the main contributors
to greenhouse gases that cause global
warming – bad for us all in the long run.
We measure these emissions in CO 2
grammes per kilometre (CO 2 g/km) emitted.These are all buzzwords that get the
environmentalists going.
The second group of emissions is arguably
more menacing as they have a more direct
effect on our health rather than the long-
term wellbeing of the planet. These are
air-pollutant emissions that cause the poor
quality of air we’re forced to breathe. The
main culprits here are mono nitrogen oxides
or NOx emissions. These types of emissions
kill people.
American emissions authorities estimate
the number of premature deaths from
vehicle air pollutant emissions to be
around 60 000 per annum. Yet the sticker
on my windscreen omits the level of NOx
emissions or any of the other nasty air
pollutant emissions.
What I found most interesting pertaining
to diesel engines was the fact that CO 2
emitted by a diesel engine is locked into
the intrinsic method of diesel engine
combustion. Every litre of diesel combusted
produces 2,7 kg of CO 2. No amount of clever
engine engineering can alter this equation.
To produce less CO 2 , you must burn less
diesel. The amount of NOx produced can,
however, be altered.
Next month I’ll let you in on some
lesser known butinterestingandshocking
NOx information.HisnewCruiseris nofuelmiser,and thispromptedMicvanZyl to
investigate his carbon footprint.The second group of emissions
is arguably more menacing as
they have a more direct impact
on our healthMIC’S MEMOS
It’s time to
clear the air