A typical Honda air-cooled single cylinder engine is expected to go from idle speed to 5000rpm at least once a lap, therefore making the critical air/fuel ratio very hard to control, especially by a simple carburettor! As a result, CO emissions are about 5 times that allowed from a modern car. With multiple karts running on an indoor track at the same time, CO levels can reach dangerous levels.

Carbon Monoxide is odourless and invisible. As such it is impossible to detect unless a CO monitor is used. At high levels, CO reacts with red blood cells preventing them from carrying Oxygen around the body. At low concentrations this will cause headaches, tiredness or nausea. At higher concentrations, unconsciousness or even death may occur.

Worldwide, the automobile industry has spent billions of £s trying to clean engine emissions. Unfortunately, this cannot be said for kart engines! The graph below highlights how polluting kart engines really are!

Comparison of Harmful Emissions Between a Go-Kart and Modern Car

• Kart emissions were measured on a Dino kart, powered by a Honda GX160 engine running on petrol, without a catalytic converter. The drive-cycle was the same as that designed by TUV in Germany, specifically for indoor karts.
• Carbon Monoxide emissions were over 4.5 times that a car engine.
• NOX and HC emissions were nearly 2.5 times that a car engine.
• By fitting a Kartalyst, emissions can be significantly reduced. Please see the 'Kartalyst Test Results' section for our TUV emissions reduction test.

Emissions are therefore an important factor to consider when running a karting centre. But, are there any regulations that kart owners must adhere to? See our 'Regulations' section for more info.