| Emissions from road traffic could be reduced
The Euro Emission Standards on vehicles are now being implemented in most parts of the world. The EFI system is more easily compatible with the catalytic converter than the carburetor engine. One is the EFI engine and the other is the carburetor engine. Most of the new Toyota models are equipped with the EFI system, with a built-in diagnosis system. EFI stands for Electronic Fuel Injection.
According to information from the automobile industry, a number of models comply with the standards of Euro II while discussions are still in progress to free the imports of engines complying with the standards of Euro II and III from duties as the local vendors are not yet ready to meet the demand. In accordance with this strategy, the Government of Punjab has introduced CNG auto rickshaws. The EFI system enhances the performance of the engine and controls emission, besides working for better fuel economy. However, for carburetor engines, it would cost from US $500 to $2,000, which would consequently raise the prices of vehicles quite substantially.
The new measure taken by the Government of Pakistan to reduce the amount of pollutant particles from automobiles by implying the Euro Emission Standards ie Euro II, would have some major impacts.
Euro II would help in enhancing the air quality with minimum presence of smoke, carbon monoxide and other hazardous gases in the atmosphere. The introduction of Euro II compliant standards would also assist in reducing noise pollution.
Since the cost of conversion of the conventional engine systems to catalytic converter is quite high, it would increase the prices of Euro II-compliant vehicles. For that reason, newer strategies need to be formulated by the government to supply duty/tax advantages to environment friendly vehicles.
. By the advent of Euro Emission Standards, these drawbacks would hopefully be reduced in the cities. The main aim to employ these vehicular emission benchmarks is to decrease the amount of toxin gases polluting the atmosphere.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), under clause (e) of section 6(1) of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, launched the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) for motor vehicle exhaust and noise in August 1993 with the approval of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Council. Pakistan is yet to employ these vehicular emission controls in order to create environment-friendly vehicles (cars mostly). The entire conversion procedure cost would range from US $120 to $400. Some are already manufacturing models complying with Euro II and Euro III standards. For instance, Pak Suzuki's Swift, Indus Motors' Toyota Altis and Honda Civic are local models based on Euro III standards.
The General Manager Commercial and Corporate Pakistan Refinery Limited, Aftab Hussain said that the government is taking steps towards complying with the Euro Emission Standards and that in this regard the specifications of Euro II are being fulfilled for petrol engines. This process of up-gradation requires heavy investment.
To operate in full compliance with the standards of Euro II, the oil refineries are expected to be up-graded. In this regard, the Ministry of Petroleum with the assistance of the Ministry of Environment, is taking useful steps towards implementation for new gasoline-fuelled vehicles.
Previously, the major barrier in the way of the employment of these emission standards in Pakistan was the fuel availability. Because of this sessions were conducted by the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency with all stake-holders, comprising the Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Environment, oil companies and automobile producers. |
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Emissions from road traffic could be reduced
