關於四期機車廢氣排放標準的兩三事。 台灣 EPA 回應：
有關台端所提機車四期排放標準：
七百西西以下之機車：
二行程機車之CO值為7.0g/km、HC＋NOx值為1.0g/km；
四行程機車之CO值為7.0g/km、HC＋NOx值為2.0g/km。
七百西西以上之機車：
CO值為12.0g/km、HC＋NOx值為2.0g/km。
前述標準將自民國九十三年一月一日起實施，該標準之訂定係順應使用者習性，採用"冷起動測試"方法進行測試，屬於更嚴格之標準，其目的即為逐步促使業者停產污染較高之二行程機車，改以生產低污染四行程機車，而國內業者已於今年起開始生產並申請符合四期環保標準之噴射引擎機車。
另有關台端所提噴合油技術之問題，係屬經濟部能源委員會管理權責，台端可逕向該會反應，若台端欲查詢其他有關機車污染排放標準之問題，可逕上網查詢（本署網站：www.epa.gov.tw），感謝您對環保工作的關心。
行政院環境保護署 敬啟
美國 MRF 剛好也和 EPA 對於排氣法規問題槓上了，我先把部分信件內文貼在下面。信中提到 EPA 官方表示，aftermarket(社外品)的銷售市場應該不至於受到新法規影響，然而 MRF 卻不這麼認為。同樣的狀況套到台灣，社外品市場因新法規(四期排氣標準)施行所可能造成的銷售危機，不知有沒有人特別提起。只節錄重要參考部分：
MRF E-MAIL NEWS
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
P.O. Box 1808
Washington, DC 20013-1808
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2003
#03NR45 – EPA ISSUES FINAL RULE FOR STREET BIKE EMISSIONS STANDARDS
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has learned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule for street bike emissions today, although it has not yet been published in the Federal Register (anticipated publication in January 2004). You can view the EPA’s “Final Rule for Cleaner Highway Motorcycles," along with various support documents, at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/roadbike.htm.
According to the EPA, Tier 1 of these new rules will “affect new motorcycles produced for the 2006 and later model years," with Tier 2 taking effect in 2010. The MRF and State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organizations (SMROs) nationwide have been working vigorously to affect the final rule regarding new street bike emissions standards for over three years. The MRF would like to highlight the following points following our preliminary review:
1. Small-volume manufacturers with fewer than 500 employees worldwide and producing fewer than 3000 motorcycles per year in the United States are not required to comply with Tier 1 standards until 2008, and small-volume manufacturers are not required to comply with the Tier 2 standards at all. From the start, the MRF and SMROs across the country have been working diligently to protect the small-volume manufacturers from potential bankruptcy, and our efforts are reflected in this exemption.
上述第一項這個對小廠商 exemption period 的條例，國內似乎沒有相對應的例子。一來國內只有大廠生存空間，二來社外品市場與機車數量根本不成比例。
2. Unfortunately, the EPA still feels that “new emission standards are not expected to have any adverse affect on the aftermarket industry." They go on to state, “The aftermarket parts industry is a substantial part of the motorcycle industry and can readily and successfully adapt to any changes that might result from this rule." Furthermore, the EPA states that, “In addition, the vast majority of aftermarket items have nothing to do with emissions, and will thus be unaffected." Obviously the questions that the MRF and SRMOs have been asking for the past three years got their attention, but this is not the answer for which we had hoped.
3. There is a once-in-a-lifetime exemption for a custom or kit motorcycle for your own personal use, as long as you don’t sell it for at least five years. The EPA points out, however, that “this exemption would not cover a case in which an entity purchases a kit, assembles the kit, and then sells it to another party; this would be considered to be the sale of the complete motorcycle."
Forty-four members of Congress joined Congressmen John Shimkus (R-IL) and Ted Strickland (D-OH) in sending a letter to the EPA in May 2003, at the request of the MRF and SMROs nationwide. The letter asked some very pointed questions regarding the proposed emissions standards for street motorcycles, and this final rule reflects the impact of that letter. The MRF would like to extend its sincere appreciation to all the individuals and organizations who have worked with us for the past three years to affect these final rules for street bike emissions standards.
The MRF is conducting an in-depth analysis of this complex final rule and will be reviewing strategies in the days to come.
最後一段是國內大大小小機車權益促進團體的致命傷之一 ，那就是組織研究，調查文獻，還有詳解法規的能力。
本年度最撼動人心的 Paris to Dakar 大賽即將於明天開始。來自前線某個人參戰車手(Chris Emerson)的感人日誌：.jpg)
