Ground-breaking work by City of York Council and Surrey based company Emissions Technology could spell virtually the end of diesel pollution in city traffic.

In a UK first the council is undertaking a trial of equipment which it believes will reduce the exhaust pollution from six of its diesel vehicles by between 80 and 90 percent - and save fuel in the process.

The equipment is similar to that currently being tested in the city through another council initiative which is trying to improve the already impressive exhaust emissions from the Norwich Union's LPG-powered minibus. However, this is the first time that diesel engines have been given the treatment in the UK.

As key partners in the trial the council has also involved North Yorkshire Police, Streamline Taxis and the Road Haulage Association with each organisation testing the equipment in their own vehicles over the next few months.

Technicians from the Emissions Technology's US parent firm are flying over from Arizona to fit the equipment to the council's vehicles on Monday (February 11) and detailed measurements of the exhaust gases will be made before and after fitting and then again in three months.

Experts from Leeds and Huddersfield universities as well as firms interested in fitting the equipment to their own vehicles will be converging on York on Monday for a workshop to inspect and discuss the new equipment.

The trial is allowing the council to gauge the effectiveness of the equipment before its official UK launch.

Councillor Derek Smallwood, the council's executive member for the environment, said, "The council is striving to lead the way for individuals and fleet operators in the city, and indeed the rest of the country, to show them that exhaust pollution is not a necessary evil and can be reduced.

"Work by the council's environment and development services department is helping to get people to leave their cars at home and walk or take the bus so we must also encourage people to own cleaner, more environmentally-friendly vehicles. This all works towards the aims of our Local Agenda 21 initiative which aims to promote sustainability in everything we do."

ET's new catalyst system ensures that the diesel fuel is burned more efficiently thus leading to less pollutants being emitted.

City of York Council is a major player in the year-long PlanetYork initiative which is showing how even one city can contribute to efforts to reduce climate change. The council has also been experimenting with cleaner vehicles for some years - owning a fleet of LPG cars, cleaner diesel trucks and a couple of electric vehicles.

ENDS

Notes for Editors: Emissions Technology Europe is the UK branch of the US company Emissions Technology based in Phoenix, Arizona which manufactures the equipment. The technology introduces minute quantities of catalysts, as found in exhaust catalytic converters, into the engine's combustion chamber where they help the fuel to burn more completely. This reduces the amounts of unburned fuel, particulates, Carbon Monoxide and Oxides of Nitrogen being released in to the atmosphere. The Arizona based manufacturer, Emissions Technology, is providing the equipment and testing free of charge, to prove its effectiveness. Three council vehicles, including a refuse collection vehicle will receive the treatment, and it is hoped that the results will prove that the benefits of diesel power in this type of vehicle can be retained whilst also protecting the environment from the traditional diesel pollution.