Beijing Euro IV Fuel Standards in Effect 1 Jan 08

2 January 2008

Euro IV fuel standards came into effect for Beijing on 1 January, as another part of the “green Olympics” that China has promised.

Under the new standard, gasoline and diesel sold at all outlets in the capital city must meet the new China IV standards, which are equivalent to the European Union's Euro IV standards, according to Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Environment Protection Bureau .

Euro IV fuel standards permit 50 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur in gasoline and diesel. Euro III fuel permits 150 ppm in gasoline and 350 ppm in diesel.

The new lower sulfur standards will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by another 1,840 tons compared to the China III (Euro III) standards. The China III standards have reduced SO₂ emissions from automobiles by 2,480 tons annually since they took effect at the end of 2005, according to official statistics.

There are an estimated 3.1 million motor vehicles in Beijing with about 1,000 to 1,200 vehicles added to the city's congested roads every day.

Motor vehicle exhaust is among the top pollution causes. Earlier reports suggested that about 40-50% of the major pollutants in Beijing’s air come from vehicle exhaust emissions.