Emissions testing applies to all vehicles that have been made
since 1968 with the exception of special interest vehicles which are noted in section 14-1 of the general motor vehicle statutes.
Emissions are tested in two ways; under acceleration and at idle.
In the acceleration test, a dynamometer is used to simulate 25%
of the power required to accelerate the vehicle at 3.3 miles per hour per second until the vehicle reaches twenty
five miles per hour. Then the vehicle is held steady at twenty five miles per hour, and the percent of
Carbon monoxides and PPM of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons coming out of the exhaust are analyzed. These
percents are then compared to the maximum allowed standards for CO, NO and HC as stated by the EPA.
In the idle test, the same things are tested except the car is not
being accelerated what so ever.
If the percents of CO, NO and HC are below the maximum allowed
by the EPA, the car passes emissions.
