New project: VTI measures emissions from A-traktors

A new project at VTI will examine how large A-traktors' emissions are. Since the vehicles often lack modern exhaust gas cleaning, emissions can be significantly higher than for ordinary passenger cars.

While issues such as road safety and driver training are often discussed regarding A-traktors, the environmental impact of these vehicles has not received much attention. The only measurement that has been made so far shows that particulate matter emissions can be 1,000 times higher than those of ordinary passenger cars and that gas emissions such as nitrogen oxide can be five to ten times higher.

The reason is that there are no requirements for the exhaust gas cleaning of A-traktors and the existing cleaning equipment can be uninstalled legally.

“The previous study was not complete, so we don't really know how much these vehicles emit. We also don't know how common it is that cleaning equipment is removed,” explains Nina Svensson, who is in charge of the project concerning the environmental impact of A-traktors.

“In some vehicles, drivers also turn on the diesel pump to get black smoke. Then the emissions could be even higher.”

Should the A-traktors be seen as an environmental problem?

“Perhaps not nationally, since there are relatively few vehicles on the roads. However, locally, under certain conditions, it can be a problem. But as I said, that's what we're going to investigate,” says Nina Svensson, adding that the differences between different vehicles are probably quite significant.

In the study, which is completely voluntary for vehicle owners, the emissions from a number of A-traktors will be measured by VTI and IVL, which are also behind the project. In connection with the vehicle inspections, inspection staff will also check what has been removed and what remains of the original equipment, such as catalytic converters and particulate filters. Furthermore, the researchers will also interview car manufacturers and conversion companies.

The study will run for two years and is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration. The results can be used as a basis by, among others, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

In recent years, the number of A-traktors has increased sharply. In 2022, there were over 50,000 registered vehicles, which is twice as many as three years earlier.