Japan: Nonroad Engines (MOT/MOC)

Regulatory Background

Emission regulations for new off-road engines and vehicles used to be under the jurisdiction of the former Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Ministry of Construction (MOC), which were amalgamated into Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) during the reorganization of Japanese government in 2001. This summary covers the historical MOT/MOC standards, which have been replaced by more recent MLIT/MOE emission regulations for nonroad engines.

The MOT standards applied to “Special Motor Vehicles” (off-road vehicles registered for operation on public roads) rated between 19-560 kW. Example equipment included agricultural tractors, forklifts, or wheel loaders.

The MOC standards applied to a variety of construction machinery including backhoe loaders, tractor-type loaders, concrete sprayers, drill jumbos, dump trucks, truck mixers, generators, air compressors and wheel cranes.

Special Motor Vehicle Standards (MOT)

The MOT standards became effective starting in October 2003 (Table 1). Emissions were measured on the ISO 8178-4 C1 cycle. Smoke was measured according to JCMAS T-004.

Construction Machinery Standards (MOC)

The Construction Machinery (MOC) emission standards are shown in Table 2. The MOC “Stage 2” standards were aligned with MOT standards (Table 1). Emissions are measured on the 8-mode C1 ISO 8178 cycle.