Increasing car emission standards, which cars are affected?

Higher emission standards for cars in circulation, which will be applied from 2020, are receiving special attention from the public, especially vehicle owners. So, which types of vehicles will have to increase their emission standards according to the new standards...

Exemption for "old" vehicles with outdated technology

A few years ago, Mr. Do Van Huu Tuyen (Tan Hoi commune, Dan Phuong, Hanoi) bought a used 2.4-ton truck to transport goods for hire and planned to drive it until the end of its useful life before changing the vehicle. Before selling, the old owner also said that the old vehicle often broke down, and every time it went for inspection, the brake system, steering system, air filter, and exhaust system had to be repaired and maintained to "pass" the inspection.

“Therefore, I am even more worried when I hear that from 2020, emission standards for vehicles in circulation will start to increase,” Mr. Tuyen expressed.

According to Mr. Tuyen, when he went for inspection, he only knew that the inspection center announced that the emissions did not meet the standards and that the emission system had to be maintained and repaired. He did not know what the standards were.

Higher emissions standards for cars on the road will come into effect from 2020.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Luc (Van Quan Ward, Ha Dong) likes to play with cars and currently owns an old 4-seater brand car, manufactured more than 20 years ago, for fun. When he first heard about the increased control of car emissions, Mr. Luc said that although he did not know the new level, he was afraid that his old car could not meet the higher standards.

Explaining the new regulations on emission standards for cars in circulation, Mr. Tran Anh Quan, acting Head of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Department of the Vietnam Register, said that according to Decision 16 dated March 28, 2019 of the Prime Minister regulating the roadmap for applying emission standards for cars in traffic and imported used cars, from January 1, 2020, a new emission standard will be applied, higher than the current level. However, the new emission standard does not apply to vehicles manufactured before 1999.

“The higher emission level compared to the current one does not apply to vehicles manufactured before 1999. Because these vehicles were manufactured more than 20 years ago, the technology is old and outdated, making it difficult to meet higher emission standards. On the other hand, there was also a previous regulation that trucks could only be used for a maximum of 25 years from the year of manufacture, and passenger vehicles for a maximum of 20 years,” said Mr. Quan.

For vehicles over 20 years old but not subject to age regulations, the current old rate will still apply, but there will be regulations on inspection signs for identification.

Vehicles at risk of not meeting new standards, what to do?

A representative of the Vietnam Register said that the current emission standards applied to vehicles in traffic have been implemented since July 2006 in 5 centrally-run cities and nationwide since July 2008. This is a lower standard than the world and neighboring countries, and has been maintained for more than 10 years, when the number of cars was less than 947,000, but has now increased by more than 3.06 times, causing the total amount of toxic emissions (such as NOx, C0) in car exhaust to increase, especially in large cities, requiring tighter control of car exhaust to reduce air pollution.

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According to Mr. Tran Anh Quan, the new standard is equal to the second highest level of the standard framework issued since 2005. However, this standard only applies to vehicles manufactured from 1999 onwards, but is divided according to a roadmap to promote and mobilize vehicle owners to increase periodic vehicle maintenance to meet new emission standards.

“From 2020, higher standards will be applied to vehicles manufactured after 2008. One year later, from 2021, they will be applied to vehicles manufactured between 1999 and 2008. Domestic research results show that cars manufactured during the above period with technology can all meet the new emission standards when vehicle maintenance and repair are performed according to the manufacturer's procedures and instructions. In case the vehicle meets the new emission standards, it is necessary to inspect the emission system, maintain and repair spare parts,” said a representative of the Vietnam Register.

According to a 2018 study by the University of Transport Technology, the average rate of vehicles failing emission standards during the first emission inspection is about 13-15%. Trucks with a load capacity of 2-7 tons have the highest rate of failing emission standards; followed by passenger cars.

The research team also concluded that vehicles with regular engine and exhaust system maintenance can improve exhaust quality by 60%, and replacing or installing an exhaust catalyst can improve it by up to 90%.

* Two standard levels apply

The emission standards (maximum allowable limits) currently applied and continue to apply to vehicles manufactured before 1999, in the exhaust of gasoline-powered vehicles, the maximum limit is 4.5% CO by volume; 4-stroke engines are 800 HC (ppm by volume), 2-stroke engines are 7,800 HC (ppm by volume), special engines are 3,300 HC (ppm by volume). For diesel-powered vehicles, the maximum is 72% HSU (smoke level).

From 2020 to 2021, separate standards will be applied to vehicles manufactured from 1999 onwards. In terms of gasoline vehicle emissions, the maximum limit is 3.5% CO by volume; 4-stroke engines are 800 HC (ppm by volume), 2-stroke engines are 7,800 HC (ppm by volume), and special engines are 3,300 HC (ppm by volume). For diesel vehicles, the maximum is 60% HSU (smoke level).