May 16th, 2017

What does a 5hp gasoline outboard have in common with 38 cars? Not much, a 5hp 4 stroke outboard emits more emissions than 38 cars...Read more below

Internal combustion engines discharge a number of harmful substances, including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOX), hydrocarbons (HC) and particulate matter. Imagine you are running a new 5 HP four-stroke outboard for one hour. Would you suspect that you are producing the same amount of NOX and HC pollution as if you were driving 38 new cars at 95 km/h for the same amount of time?

Let’s look at the facts.
The automotive industry uses sophisticated electronic motor and emissions controls. Catalytic converters have been required equipment in automobiles for 30 years. Exhaust gas recirculation systems are common equipment. Even the latest four-stroke outboards do not have equivalent systems. The level of harmful NOX and HC emissions, even from very small petrol outboards, is dramatically higher than in cars. Though there are far fewer outboards, their pollution is substantial and vastly out of proportion.

NOX and HC are poisonous, carcinogenic, and contribute to the formation of ozone and acid rain.

If you can avoid these high levels of pollution by switching to quiet, modern and emission-free electric drive systems – then why wouldn’t you?

​

---

---

---