Gasoline Lead Additive and Cost Effects of Potential 1975-1976 Emission Control Systems 730014

A study was conducted in 1971 to assess the overall effects of lead additives in gasoline on the performance, durability, and costs of emission control devices/systems which might be used to meet the 1975-1976 federal emission standards for light-duty motor vehicles. Although no system has yet demonstrated meeting the 50,000-mile emission level lifetime, all currently planned 1975-1976 emission control systems include a catalytic converter. However, lead additives are toxic to catalytic materials; they reduce catalytic activity, which results in increasing emission levels with mileage accumulation. Unleaded gasoline would be required in quantities sufficient to satisfy the demands of vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter in order to prevent catalyst activity degradation from lead additives. Implementation of such advanced emission control systems implies very high cost to the consumer, with the cost being a strong function of the required NO_x emission level. At this time, estimated overall costs to the consumer (initial, maintenance, and operating) for emission control systems being considered for the 1976 federal emission standards are $860 above average 1970 vehicle costs, over an 85,000-mile vehicle lifetime. This estimate is based on a system incorporating a dual (HC/CO, NO_x) catalytic converter, a low-grade rich thermal reactor, and exhaust gas recirculation. This system is currently considered to have the most promise to meet the 1976 NO_x standard of 0.4 g/mile.