Shanghai vehicles to follow stricter emissions norms in 2009

Shanghai, April 11 (Gasgoo.com) Starting in late 2009, new vehicles on sale in the Shanghai market must meet the China IV emissions standard, just after Beijing, according to Zhang Quan, director of Shanghai Municipal  Bureau of Environmental Protection.

The official said that the emissions standards that vehicles in the city will have to comply with are similar to Euro IV norms after approval is granted by the relevant authorities. Crucial to this plan is the implementation of China IV standard fuel: a clean energy to be used during the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Other cities around Shanghai will also have access to this energy.

Similar measures have been taken in Beijing in the run-up to the Summer Olympic Games in August this year as the capital city seeks to clean up its air before the arrival of athletes and spectators. In light of the increased congestion affecting Chinese cities as vehicle sales continue to soar, the authorities are looking at measures to curb the output of exhaust gases.

However, in order to achieve the emissions standards, gasoline / petrol and diesel vendors in Shanghai will need to sell fuel that adheres to these stipulations. Zhang said that this process is under way in the city, with the surrounding areas in the Yangtze River Delta following later. 

Statistics show the pollutant emissions of every vehicle have been cut by half each time emissions standards changed, beginning from China I and continuing through the latest China IV emissions standard.

With the implementation of the stricter norms next year, Shanghai will meet the EU's current emissions standards.