URGENT - Please read the emissions post in the Kit Car Forum

[VxDuncan]

In case you haven't spotted it, please read the post in the kit car forum relating to potential changes to the emissions standards for kit cars.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The proposal is that kit cars will have to pass emissions test based on the date of the vehicles registration, not the date of the engine. Obviously this is of serious concern to anybody building an SBC powered Ultima, but it's also not clear if it will be retrospectively applied to already registered vehicles. T

he requirement to meet later emissions requirements leaves all owners at risk of tougher regulation, given existing MOT emissions testing is quite basic compared with EURO 6 etc.


Please read, share and reply to the consultation with your thoughts.

[ROWDYRENAULT]

Just a yank, glad that he,s not facing this issue. My first thought would be I thought Britex was suppose to get you away from the E.U. not closer. The problem we all have is the unelected bureaucrats see all of this as a threat to their rice bowl and will do all in their means to stop individual freedom. One of these days the British and American citizens may need to be on the same side in a war for Independence some 250 years latter.
Would the G.M. E rod crate, motor that comes with a certification of compliance for smog help you folks with this issue? Lee

[BobE]

It’s not at all clear from reading the document that it will apply retrospectively or not. Given the very limited time for responding I think we should respond - and I would hope the factory would as well. If it is retrospective then it’s going to be a huge problem - if it’s only for new registrations it’s still a major issue given the very short introduction timing.

[Ultimike]

There has been some chat about this on fb as I understand it the stance is that the Evolution conforms to the existing regulations and will continue to do so in the future. In regards to used vehicles they will not have to meet the new proposed regulations and will be tested as per the regulations when the vehicle was first registered.

[BobE]

Ultimike said:

There has been some chat about this on fb as I understand it the stance is that the Evolution conforms to the existing regulations and will continue to do so in the future. In regards to used vehicles they will not have to meet the new proposed regulations and will be tested as per the regulations when the vehicle was first registered.

Have you had the retrospective element confirmed by the Department of Transport? I’m still awaiting a reply and I’ve also asked the question through my local MP. Hopefully this will all get dropped if enough manufacturers and private individuals respond in protest. The worst situation would be for a retrospective situation where for instance SBC cars would have to have a major engine change to comply as would many thousands of other cars. Even if it isn’t retrospective cars like the continuation Jaguar E and D types or Aston Martins couldn’t be road legal as well as cars like for instance Suffolk SS replicas. The wording in the proposal is very open and you can read it two ways - one will be for every car retrospectively where they have to comply with the emissions requirement when they were first registered and other for only new car registrations when the new directive takes effect. It seems a huge overkill for a very limited effect.

[BobE]

I’ve now had an answer via the assistant to my MP who contacted the Department of Transport. The new rules. - if they come into force - will not be retrospective and will only affect vehicles registered from a date later in 2018 that has still to be determined. All those with SBC cars can breathe a sigh of relief. Anyone building a car with an engine that won’t comply with current emission standards due to the age of the engine needs to get it registered as soon as possible just in case.

[Ultimike]

Great job.