Singapore to adopt Euro VI emission standards for petrol vehicles

Channel NewsAsia 1 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE: Starting September 2017, petrol vehicles in Singapore will have to comply with the Euro VI emission standards, the latest engine emission standards set by the European Union (EU).

The move will further reduce NOx (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) and fine particulates – in particular the PM2.5 - from vehicular emissions and help to improve Singapore’s ambient air quality, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Monday (Dec 1).

The EU’s vehicular emission standards impose strict rules on tailpipe gas emissions of new vehicles sold in EU member states. They have also been progressively implemented in Singapore and other countries. Currently, the standard for petrol vehicles in Singapore is Euro IV.

“NEA has been in consultation with the automotive industry since early 2014 on the enhancement of vehicular emission standards, in order to provide the automotive industry with sufficient lead time to develop motor vehicles that are able to meet the emission requirements,” the agency said, adding that by September 2017, there will be an adequate supply and range of Euro VI vehicle models for consumers to choose from.

NEA also said that starting September 2017, it will accept petrol vehicles using Port Fuel Injection (PFI) technology that have achieved Japanese emission standards (JPN 2009) as being equivalent to meeting Euro VI emission standards.

This announcement comes as Singapore had pledged to cut carbon emissions by 7 per cent to 11 per cent below 2020 business-as-usual (BAU) levels, and in case of a binding international agreement, by 16 per cent below BAU.

- CNA/cy

Petrol vehicles to adopt Euro VI emission standards from September 2017
Today Online 2 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE — New petrol vehicles here will have to meet the stricter Euro VI emission standards from September 2017, the National Environment Agency (NEA) announced yesterday.

The new standards will help ensure improved air quality by reducing the emission of harmful NOx (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) and fine particulates, said the NEA. The current standard for petrol vehicles here is Euro IV, which was imposed in 2006.

In a statement, the NEA said it has been in consultation with the automotive industry since the start of this year to allow it enough time to adapt to the new emission standards. “Industry players had been informed that the stricter standard was expected to be implemented from the second half of 2017. By September 2017, there will be an adequate supply and range of Euro VI petrol vehicle models for consumers to choose from,” the NEA said.

The NEA will also accept petrol vehicles that use Port Fuel Injection technology, which meets Japanese emission standards (JPN 2009), as vehicles that have met the Euro VI emission standards.

In previous media reports, car dealers had asked to be given three years’ notice before the Euro VI standards are implemented to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2006. At the time, Japanese carmakers were caught off-guard when the Euro IV standards were rolled out for diesel vehicles, leading to a lack of vehicles and a plunge in Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices. As a result, thousands of automobile owners in Singapore extended the lifespan of their ageing vehicles, many of which are still on the road today.

Mr Ron Lim, general manager of sales and marketing at Tan Chong Motor, said the Euro VI standards will not be a problem as long as cars that use the JPN 2009 standards are also accepted. “Cars (manufactured in) Europe will definitely be Euro VI compliant, so we won’t have a problem with European cars,” he told TODAY.

The Singapore Vehicle Traders Association’s immediate past president Ricky Tay said car prices might be pushed up a little, but he does not foresee sales being affected. “Cars that are Euro VI compliant will be of a higher grade, and the car computers will also have to be upgraded. COE premium prices and the total debt servicing ratio for Euro VI compliant cars will also affect car prices,” he said.

The Euro VI emission standards are the latest set by the European Union (EU), which imposes strict rules on tailpipe gas emissions of new vehicles sold in EU member states. These regulatory guidelines have been progressively implemented in Singapore and other countries.

The NEA’s announcement follows Singapore’s pledge to cut carbon emissions by 7 per cent to 11 per cent below 2020 business-as-usual (BAU) levels, and in case of a binding international agreement, by 16 per cent below BAU.