Raising emission standards for cars is essential

Imported used cars will be applied the standard level 3 from 1/1/2022. Photo: Thu Hoa.

It's time to raise the standard

According to the Ministry of Transportation, the current emission standards of Vietnam have been unchanged for the past 12 years, while the number of cars nationwide has increased steadily, which leads to the sharp increase of pollution level. Along with that, according to the air quality assessment reports, especially in the two big cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the NOx and CO ratios, which are the compounds in the exhaust gases of motorized vehicles, have exceeded the permissible level from 1.2 to 1.5 times. This is adversely affecting people's health.

As of January 1, 2017, the EURO 4 emission standard will become effective throughout the country, engine technology, exhaust systems and emissions quality of newly assembled and imported automobiles will be increased. This will be an important basis for the application of higher emission standards for imported used motor vehicles and cars to further improve the quality of emissions from vehicles, contributing to the national environmental protection. Therefore, raising the emission standards is very necessary.

According to the draft, the subjects being applied the levels of emissions are divided into two categories: used cars and cars involved in traffic. This provision will not be applied to automobiles of the army and police for the purposes of national defense and security.

The draft of the Decree of the Prime Minister stipulating the roadmap for raising the standard of exhaust gases for circulated cars and imported used cars has been put into the roadmap for application of emission standards for cars involved in traffic from 1/1/2020. The draft is expected to simultaneously apply two emission levels including level 1 (currently applied) and level 2, which is stipulated in the Decision No. 249/2005/QD-TTg.

Specifically, the current standard (level 1) is still applicable to the cars, which are manufactured before 1999. However, if the cars in this group only meet level 1 but do not meet level 2, the Technical Safety Mark & Environmental Protection Mark will have signs to identify.

For the cars manufactured from 1999 to the end of 2008, the emission standard 2 will be applied but it will be retested for a period and not exceed one year compared to January 1, 2020. The cars manufactured from 2009 onward are subject to apply the level 2 as of January 1, 2020. And the imported used vehicles will be applied the level 3 from January 1, 2022.

There will be signs of vehicles over their “lifetime limit”

Explaining the reasons for choosing the 1999 milestone, the Ministry of Transport said that 1999 was the year when the Prime Minister's Decision 1397/QD-TTg came into effect, the cars involved in traffic started to be checked for emissions. The cars manufactured before and after this time have a change in the quality of maintenance as well as quality of vehicles. Allowing the vehicles that were manufactured before 1999 to apply the current standard (level 1) is necessary because the automotive technology at that time may not allow further improvements in emissions by repairing, maintaining or replacing their parts.

As a result, people still have the option of continuing to use low-emission vehicles with the red-line mark on the inspection stamp, or plan to replace newer vehicles with better exhaust qualities. The red-line mark will also be a sign for local authorities to identify and come up with management measures later by themselves.

The cars manufactured after 2009 are equipped with more advanced engine technology to ensure the EURO 2 emission standard and these cars will easily meet the standard level 2 through maintaining and cleaning their system exhaust. The remaining groups of vehicles will have a deadline of applying the new standard for one year to be propagandized, guided and prepared for maintenance and repair vehicles.

Remarkably, by the end of 2019, the over 9-seat cars produced before 1999 will be expired, not allow to use. Thus, all types of passenger 9 seat-cars are modern vehicles, with sufficient technology to meet the standard level 2.

By May 5/2018, Vietnam has 184,124 cars over 20 years old, of which 2,613 passenger 9 seat-cars will be expired. Therefore, by the end of 2019, about 181,151 cars manufactured before 1999 are still in operation and are allowed to apply the current emission standard (level 1). This will be the group of cars that are not affected by the adoption of the new standards.

Commenting on this draft, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thuy, a traffic specialist, said that raising the standard of exhaust gas for circulated cars and imported used cars is very necessary. Because this emission standard has not been adjusted for more than 10 years, while the number of cars is increasing year by year. This has a direct impact on the air quality.

"It is fitting for me to keep the current standard (level 1) for the cars manufactured before 1999, because these cars can hardly be repaired or maintained to raise the emissions standard higher. In addition, I realized that in the draft there are signs that the car has not met the emission standards, which will help people have the choice and plan to replace and use newer models with higher emission standards," said Dr. Thuy.