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Direct Injection Two-Stroke Technology Facts
There has been a long-standing misconception about two-stroke carbureted engine technology, two-stroke direct injection technology, and four-stroke technology. The debate centers on the cleanliness of the engines and government emissions regulations.
Following is a summary of the three governing agencies and regulation standards for each.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) All technologies including carbureted and electronic fuel injection (EFI) two-strokes can be sold past 2006 as long as the manufacturer's corporate average is within the maximum limit.
- Hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are regulated.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) is reported, but not regulated.
- California Air Resources Board (CARB) Only engines in compliance with CARB 1-Star (as of 2001), 2-Star (as of 2004) and 3- Star (as of 2008) limits can be sold in the state of California.
- Hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are regulated.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) is reported, but not regulated.
- European Union Recreational Craft Directive (EU) Only engines in compliance with specific emission limits set can be sold past December 31, 2005 (four-strokes) and past December 31, 2006 (two-strokes).
- Separate levels for HC, NOx, and CO are regulated.
All Evinrude E-TEC outboards are compliant with all U.S. EPA, CARB and EU emissions legislations.
The legislation enacted by the U.S. EPA, CARB, and EU regulate emissions and not technologies, manufacturers and not consumers. There is nothing in the EPA, CARB or the EU outboard emissions legislation that bans the use of any outboard engine on any waterway.
Four-stroke and direct injection two-stroke outboards are significantly cleaner than traditional carbureted outboards. Both technologies offer significant reductions in emissions compared to carbureted and EFI two-stroke engines.
With the evolution of two-stroke direct injection by BRP, an entirely new technology was created in Evinrude® E-TEC® that produces lower emissions levels than four-stroke technology. The complete line of Evinrude E-TEC two-stroke direct injection outboards complies with all three governing agencies' stringent emissions standards and has been awarded the 2005 Clean Air Technology Excellence Award by the U.S. EPA. Evinrude E-TEC engines have the industry's best ultra-low emissions rating and produce fewer emissions than any outboard engine in the world. Here is how BRP made it possible;
- The oil in an E-TEC outboard is combusted in the cylinder the same way as fuel and is already accounted for in its 3-Star emission rating. Unlike four-stroke oil, specially blended TCW3 oil is designed for complete combustion, preventing oil from escaping into the environment. Because of complete combustion, Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines do not generate any waste oil, such as used crankcase oil, that needs to be disposed of. According to the American Petroleum Institute, next to use by asphalt plants, the second largest result of waste oil is improper disposal into the environment. Since Evinrude E-TEC outboards do not generate any waste oil, they eliminate the chance of improper oil disposal.
- Evinrude E-TEC stratified combustion is the precise control of direct injected fuel into the cylinder resulting in two to three times the fuel efficiency of competitive 4-strokes and producing up to 86 times lower concentrations of carbon monoxide at slow speeds. While some engine manufacturers only talk about fuel economy at the engine's gsweet spoth, Evinrude E-TEC provides high levels of fuel efficiency throughout the entire operating range providing greater range and lower operating costs.
- Evinrude E-TEC engines are consistently lower in total reportable emissions than fourstroke engines. In addition, E-TEC engines produce dramatically lower carbon monoxide emissions for a cleaner, safer boating environment.
- According to the Southwest Research Institute, a government-approved emissions testing lab, a competitor's 115 hp four-stroke outboard engine consumed 4.9 quarts of oil in 100 hours of testing which simulated real world usage. The oil capacity of the engine is only 4.8 quarts. This oil consumption is over and above the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, BRP was selected by their Clean Air Technology Excellence Award judges because its Evinrude E-TEC technology has redesigned engine technology for boating. BRP demonstrated that Evinrude E-TEC two-stroke outboard engine carbon monoxide emissions are 30 to 50 percent lower than a similar four-stroke engine and at idle, are lower by a factor of 50 to 100 times. Cleaner burning E-TEC engines release less soot and particulate matter and emit lower carbon monoxide levels, an emission component currently reported to the EPA by manufacturers of outboards but not currently regulated within the United States. Carbon monoxide levels will be regulated in the European Union next year.
Evinrude E-TEC is the only marine engine ever to receive the EPA Clean Air Excellence Award. This new generation of outboard engines is a cleaner and quieter technology, delivering unmatched levels of power and performance. They are built with the highest quality, durable parts in a compact lightweight package that is easy to maintain and operate.
BRP, a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles. Our portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo® and Lynx™ snowmobiles, Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Johnson® and Evinrude® outboard engines, direct injection technologies such as Evinrude E-TEC®, Bombardier* all-terrain vehicles (ATV), Rotax® engines and karts.
www.brp.com
®, ™Trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its subsidiaries.
* Trademark of Bombardier Inc. used under license.
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