Beijing may tighten its automobile-emission standards to the Euro
II level from the beginning of next year, one year ahead of
schedule, according to sources with the
Beijing
Environmental Protection Bureau.
But cars registered before that time will not be forced to meet the
standard.
Beijing started to implement Euro I emission standards in January
1999. The standards are based on the regulations for new heavy-duty
diesel engines that were first introduced in 1992 by the European
Parliament and the Council of Environment Ministers.
Beijing's decision to implement Euro II standards comes in the wake
of public appeals for clean air and the soaring number of
vehicles.
The latest statistics indicate that the number of cars in the city
has reached 1.7 million. The number is increasing fast and is
predicted to reach 3 million by 2008.
Vehicle emissions are one of the major sources of pollution in the
capital's atmosphere.
About 60 percent of the city's nitrogen dioxide in air and 70
percent of hydrocarbons come from automobile emissions, according
to environmental experts.
Tougher standards help limit emissions of harmful gases such as
carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide.
Euro II standards demand a 60 percent reduction of such harmful
emissions on average compared with Euro I standards.
For instance, Euro II standards stipulate that hydrocarbon
discharges should not exceed 0.5 grams per kilometer for a
petrol-powered vehicle, 0.63 grams lower than Euro I standards.
Carbon monoxide emissions should not exceed 2.2 grams per kilometer
under Euro II standards. This is 0.96 grams lower than what Euro I
standards demand.
Most new vehicles have reached or exceeded Euro II standards,
according to the bureau.
Beijing authorities hope to improve the environment for the 2008
Summer Olympics and the city is looking at the introduction of Euro
III standards by 2005.
(China
Daily June 17, 2002)