Emissions, Tuning and registrATION
The impact the EPA crack down has had on tuning is to reduce the ability of US based tuning software to modify and delete emission controls. So, if the EPA continues to crack down on US tuning software companies are they just pushing the industry underground? I agree that something needs to be done about emissions and there are still many performance modifications that can be made while remaining emission compliant. There are multiple non-US based tuning software suppliers that are not under EPA directives so is the EPA just hurting US companies? Is there an opportunity to legally cater for modified vehicles emissions in Australia?
The next step for the EPA is to tackle the performance industry shop by shop, it has started but will not be nearly as easy as targeting the large US based software suppliers. What does this mean for Australia? My guess is a move away from US based tuning platforms like HP Tuners, Cobb, SCT and a trend towards European and Russian software that is not subject to the same EPA limitations. The sanctions on Russia seemed to slow down the Russian software suppliers for a week or two, now all this is supported from servers outside Russia with barely a hiccup. There are still hundreds of tune file suppliers more than happy to delete and turn off whatever emission control device you wish, and while large fines exist for emission tampering in Australia for both individuals and businesses it seems to be infrequent at best and RWC testers have no ability to test for emission compliance beyond visual inspections. How do you enforce a penalty without reasonably priced infrastructure to test for emissions? It seems unfair to be fined for all but the most blatant of offences as there is no testing facilities in many states including Victoria for actual emissions. Picture a breathalyzer for the exhaust.
It is my hope that we may have a more inclusive approach to modified vehicles and emissions than CARB in the US. The industry should be able to survive but I do think there is a shakeup required. In Victoria what is needed is an emissions testing station, multiple, but let’s start with one. ABMARC have failed to provide a solution due to insufficient profit, and that was at a cost that the industry could not support. When compared to NSW that has a free testing station Victoria is lagging. The Victorian and Federal Government has seen fit to invest into the AIC (Auto Innovation Centre) but has neglected one of the most necessary aspects of the aftermarket, emissions compliance. Both State and Federal governments claim to be supporting the aftermarket, the reality is most modifications made to vehicles include a performance enhancing aspect but there is no testing facility to assess these modifications either for emissions or quality.
If proper testing was available then an option exists to offer modified vehicle registration where polluters can pay higher registration for carbon offsets. The current system of Police removing cars from the road for RWC testing does not address the issue satisfactorily. Police are not properly trained in vehicle modifications or emissions and RWC testers are unable to test emissions anyway. Modifying and returning to stock of cars for the sake of passing a RWC inspection is ridiculous but is happening frequently and does not deter people from making illegal modifications anyway.
Nothing comes for free, if you can afford to modify your car then you can afford some additional costs to do so as environmentally as possible but then should be able to enjoy the modifications without fear of fines and reprisals. With the correct equipment it would be easy enough to estimate the additional carbon output and cost of offsetting this. This would also provide opportunities to improve the quality of aftermarket tuning with facilities that can test for all the harmful gasses, modified vehicle emissions can often be minimized which would reduce the carbon offset cost for the consumer and encourage more efficient tuning, discounts could be given where older vehicles have reduced emissions due to the fitment of newer cleaner engines or fuel injection is retrofitted. No one wants to think of additional running costs at the moment but if everyone pays their own small share relative to the level of additional pollution they make then maybe a compromise can be made. Certainly the current Russian Roulette system of modify, anxiety, return to stock could be eliminated, at least from an emission perspective, these additional funds could be funneled into emissions reduction projects testing facilities and education on tuning for emissions in modified vehicles.