Beijing to adopt world's toughest emission standards
Authorities in China's capital, Beijing, announced that they would implement new vehicle emission norms that would be the world's strictest. According to the officials, the newest vehicle emission standard, Beijing VI, would be implemented by December 2017 to decrease the hazardous emissions of hydrocarbons by 5%. It is expected that the norm would reduce overall emissions by 40-50% and at least 20-30% by 2022.
First emission norm set up in China
Beijing had implemented the National Light Division Vehicles emission norm called 'China 1' in 1999 (similar to Euro 1 norms), which were replaced by China 1 LDV tailpipe emission standards in 2000.
BEPB releases proposed LDV emission norm
Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau had announced the proposed LDV emission standard for the city called 'Beijing VI'. According to officials, the proposed Beijing VI aims to reach the emission reduction goals, which were formulated in 'Clean Air Action Plan'. The proposed norms were expected to cover a broader range of driving conditions and would apply only to gasoline, gasoline hybrid, gasoline dual fuel vehicles.
China to introduce next environmental norms
Reportedly, China would soon introduce tougher environmental standards in an attempt to lower pollutants like nitrogen oxide and particulate matter at least by 50% a year in vehicle exhausts. Automakers would need to introduce technologies that aid clean-driving and take other similar steps to meet the new standards. China's 'National VI' norms would cover major cities from 2017, similar to the Euro 6 standards.
China signs agreement to decrease emissions
China signed the Paris Climate Agreement in Apr'16 to fight the increasing global temperatures. The world's top carbon emitter had announced that "domestic procedures" would be finalized in the country to ratify the agreement before the G20 summit.
Beijing takes the lead to implement norms
Beijing always took the lead in implementing environmental norms; gasoline standards are one or two stages ahead in Beijing than other cities in China. In 2007, Beijing issued and implemented Beijing I gasoline norm to use unleaded gasoline and Beijing II in 2014. Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau said that the city applied Beijing III, IV, V gasoline standards in 2005, 2008 and 2012 respectively.
Norms to be implemented earlier than expected
Widely-known as the most polluted in the world, China decided to roll out the new tougher emission norms earlier than expected, i.e., 2020. Apart from the Chinese capital, the norms are expected to be implemented in another major Chinese city, Shanghai. The regulations would reportedly be implemented in Beijing and Shanghai first and then spread to other places from 2018 called 'National VI' norms.
National VI norms to be finalized by 2016
China's Ministry of Environmental Protection stated that they would present a detailed plan for 'National VI' norm by the end of 2016. Although China announced huge incentives for plug-in hybrids, electric cars, fuel-cell vehicles, etc., it failed to compel the makers to build them. As the current incentive program would expire in 2021, China is searching for alternative methods to stimulate electric vehicle market.
China would become the toughest regulatory regime
Ahead of the 2016 Beijing Auto Show, Mark Fields-CEO of Ford Company stated, "Given these new rules and "societal factors around air pollution," China will become the toughest regulatory regime in the world over the next five years."
