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84

The War Against the Automobile

Emissions

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Figure 2: EMISSIONS AND Am/FUEL RATIO

cal problem is as severe now as it was in the late 1960s. There is simply no way that automobile manufacturers can meet the existing requirements of NOx reduction. Clearly, the simplest solution is not to worry so much about NOx, and modify the standards accordingly. But some of the more enthusiastic clean air types, for reasons that shall be discussed later, would certainly say then that the politicians have "sold out" to Detroit. To.
be absolutely candid we cannot be entirely sure that NOx is not a problem; there may be things that we do not know about yet, which might still require action.
But take a look at Table 1. Automobile emissions have been cut so much that, compared with an uncontrolled car, 1977 models produce only 17 percent as many hydrocarbons, 17 percent as much carbon monoxide, and 57 percent as many nitro-

Table 1: FEDERAL EXHAUST EMISSION STANDARDS (Grams/Mile According to Current EPA Test Procedure)

HYDRO- CARBON NITROGEN CARBONS MONOXIDE OXIDES (HC) (CO) (NOx) Uncontrolled Pre-1968 Average 8.7 87 3.5 Existing (1976) Standards 1968-69 6.2 51 1970-71 4.1 34 1972 3.0 28 1973-74 3.0 28 3.1 1975-76 1.5 15 3.1 1977 . 1.5 15 2.0 1978 .41 3.4 .4 (1976) EPA Proposals 1978-79 1.5 15 2.0 1980-1 .9 9 2.0 1982 .41 3.4 .
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15 Air/Fuel Ratio

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tion, and many serious air pollution control experts are beginning to ask it. Since the Clean Air Act of 1970 was written, a good deal more is known and the enthusiasm for eliminating NOx has abated conside~ably. This does not mean that NOx is not a problem or might not be a problem, but there is certainly less concern about it now than at the time of the Clean Air Act.
When the Clean Air Act was written in 1970 the automobile manufacturers maintained that it was impossible to meet the schedule. Congress took the position that in order to force them to clean up exhausts it was necessary "to hold their feet to the Hre"-thus the NOx standards were written into law. The techni-