Environmental issues

The steadily increasing number of vehicles on our roads is adversely affecting the environment - both our air quality and through noise pollution.

Environmental impact is affected by vehicle emissions, and these in turn are affected by vehicle technology, vehicle distances travelled, and the mechanical condition of vehicles (eg vehicles with smoky exhausts).

Air quality

The two main causes of air pollution in Perth are smoke and smog. In summer, the key air quality problem is photochemical smog caused by sunlight reacting with nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds (such as petrol vapours).

Noise

Noise regulations limit offensive noise levels from various types of vehicles. Acceptable noise limits (together with a national standardised test procedure), are in Part 10 of the Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Rules 2002.

Alternative fuels

The Vehicle Safety Branch encourages the use of environmentally friendly alternative fuels. It is expected that the use of alternative fuels will increase substantially in the next 10 years.

Alternative fuels include:

• Solar Power
  
  Solar power has been used to fuel small experimental vehicles and to provide supplementary power for accessories. This technology is being developed rapidly - as shown by the fact that vehicles in the Darwin to Adelaide Solar Car Rally have increased their maximum speeds from 40km/hr to 150km/hr over the last ten years.
  
  
• Fuel Cells
  
  There are many forms of fuel cells currently being investigated, but those that use hydrogen as a fuel are the most prominent. Hydrogen fuel cells work by a controlled reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, releasing energy in the form of electricity. Research is currently being conducted by major vehicle manufacturers and research institutions around the world. In Perth the Department is currently involved with the trial of three hydrogen fuel cell buses as part of a worldwide project.
  
  
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
  
  LPG is a by-product of oil refining but can also be extracted from natural gas.
  
  
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
  
  Liquefied Natural Gas has potential, but its use is currently limited due to the lack of supporting infrastructure for refuelling.
  
  
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
  
  Compressed Natural Gas is currently a more viable option than LNG in the short to medium term. The infrastructure required can be set up relatively cheaply compared with LNG.

  
  CNG Bus

• Alcohols
  
  Methanol, ethanol and other fuels containing alcohol can be produced from forest raw materials or agricultural products. Australian studies have been carried out on the impact of E10 and E20 (10% and 20% ethanol fuels respectively) and the results of these studies are available from the Department of Transport and Regional Services.
  
  
• Other "Bio-fuels"
  
  There are other renewable fuels, eg "biodiesel", which is derived from a variety of biological sources such as tallow, canola or soya beans. Biodiesel is usually sold mixed with petro-diesel. Although it is sometimes sold in Europe unmixed, five per cent, 10 per cent or 20 per cent blends are more common. Biodiesel is also used as a lubricant additive in low sulphur diesels. One or two per cent biodiesel improves the fuel's lubricant quality considerably.

Environmentally friendly vehicles

Vehicle Safety Branch officers can help you with advice on the construction and licensing of environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric vehicles.

In the short term, as petrol prices rise, hybrids and small electric vehicles are expected to become more common before other technologies (such as fuel cells) become commercially viable.