Carmakers’ move to delay emissions cap angers Thai e-vehicle industry

[snoop1130]

Carmakers’ move to delay emissions cap angers Thai e-vehicle industry

By The Nation

 

 

A proposal by carmakers to delay introduction of the Euro 5 emissions standard is awaiting approval from the Cabinet after being passed by the National Environment Board on July 20.

 

The government plans to impose Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards on auto manufacturers from 2021 and 2022, respectively.

 

However, the Automotive Industry Club and the Federation of Thai Industries are asking for the Euro 5 standard for cars to be delayed until 2025 and Euro 6 until 2028. Meanwhile they want the Euro 5 and 6 standards for trucks to start from 2026 and 2030, respectively.

 

Their proposal cited damage to the auto industry from the economic impact of Covid-19.

 

The National Environment Board approved a three-year postponement for both cars and trucks, but said the separate Euro 5 fuel standard will start on the original date – January 1, 2024.

 

“Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Ford are leading the push to delay adoption of Euro 5 and 6 emissions standards. The latest meeting of the National Environment Board agreed to delay the move for three years – a shorter period than requested – and to not divide the policy into small/large car groups, "the source said.

 

The move to delay drew opposition from Thailand’s electric vehicle industry.

 

Postponing introduction of emissions standards would leave Thailand suffering PM2.5 air pollution problem for at least another 10 years, said Yossapong Laoonual, honorary chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT).

 

"Carmakers cannot complain that adjusting to emission standards is unaffordable since the cost of adapting to Euro 6 was Bt20,000 per vehicle 14 years ago. Today that cost has reduced even further. They should also stop claiming that fuel services are not ready, since many brands and models of Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles are already available in Thailand for general use, including eco-cars and European cars," said Yossapong.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392608

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-08-07

 

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[Scott Tracy]

Get on with it. It's in Europe, so the major car makers are already doing it.

[Redline]

As the world moves forward, Thailand will again stuck in the past

Edited August 8, 2020 by Redline

[Jitar]

EVAT anger will probably make no difference.  PM2.5 emissions are most problematic for diesels.  Euro 5 ULSD fuel is needed as well as Euro 5 or 6 compliant vehicles to improve PM2.5 emissions.  Thailand is still planning the introduction of both.  

 

Euro 5 or the US equivalent have been applied to light and heavy road vehicles in most western countries for about 10 years.  THailand has been very slow to adopt new emissions standards but at least that gives manufacturers time to learn from the problems with DPF and SCR systems elsewhere.  General consensus seems to be to avoid using DPF equipped diesels in urban conditions with low speed traffic.  That may be a problem in places like BKK with a high proportion of diesel vehicles and terrible traffic.  

Edited August 8, 2020 by Jitar

[tomazbodner]

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Ford are leading the push to delay adoption of Euro 5 and 6 emissions standards.

Gives me idea which brands of cars never to buy.