China to implement EU-III standards on new heavy trucks

Shanghai, December 27, Gsasgoo.com—China will implement EU-III standards on heavy trucks as of January 1, 2008, according to regulations jointly released by China’s State Environmental Protection Agency and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

 

Under the new regulation, new heavy trucks are not allowed to sell at the Chinese market if they cannot meet EU-III emission standards.

 

China’s National III standard, which is very similar to EU III standard, requires a 30%-50% reduction of tailpipe emission from the EU-II standards. 

 

"The mandatory EU-III standards will make raise heavy truck prices by 10%-15%,” said Guo Huanan, spokesman of Sinotruck, China's largest heavy truck manufacturer. 　

 

Most heavy truck vehicles currently in use are unable to meet this standard, said Ba Yingfeng, sales manager of Shanghai Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing Co.,Ltd. “To meet this standard, our production costs will go up RMB 20,000-30,000 for each vehicle.”

 

To meet the new standard, domestic manufactures have to upgrade the mechanical engines, which in currently use for most heavy truck makers, into the advanced electronic control engines. At the same time, gas stations should be upgrade to provide III-standard oil.

 

FAW, Dongfeng Motor and Sinotruck, the Big Three in China’s heavy truck industry, have launched a series of heavy truck models.Sinotruck's  "Golden Prince” has satisfied EU-III standards. Shaanxi Heavy Truck, has developed EU-III standard WP10N and WP12N engines that are equipped in vehicles made by the automaker. Other truckers, Beiqi Foton and Chongqing Heavy Truck are seeking foreign partners to develop engines that can meet EU-III standards.

 

Industry experts have pointed out some barriers for the implementation of EU-III standards in China’s heavy truck market. First, few models produced by domestic truck makers can meet this standard; second, EU II-standard fuel, which is current in use in most gas stations, could damage the new engines. In addition, maintenances of III-standard heavy trucks are not available in most repair shops.