Even though Vietnam has already set a deadline to comply with European level 4 exhaust emission standards (Euro 4), whether the new legislation is feasible remains unclear.
VietnamNet reports that many drivers are still unaware of the new standards, which cap the limit for exhaust emissions from new vehicles. However, even those who are aware of the change in regulations – including automobile associations and businesses – worry about the lack of proper Euro 4 fuel available in Vietnam.
Vu Hoang, a car owner from Hanoi’s Cau Giay District, told VietnamNet: “In order to meet the requirement, we need appropriate fuel but we do not know exactly which kind of fuel meets the new standard.”
According to the news outlet, the Ministry of Science and Transportation is responsible for issuing a set of nationwide technical standards regarding petrol, diesel fuel and biofuel in order to meet the Euro 4 standard. However, with a month to go before the change, these guidelines have not yet been released.
Moreover, to run a Euro 4 engine with Euro 2 fuel – currently the most consumed type of fuel in Vietnam – is inefficient.
“Euro 4 engines are designed to have different fuel injection and exhaust systems compared with Euro 2. And the gas filtration system is also different,” Tran Tan Trung, director of Audi distributor Lien A International, shared with VietnamNet in another article.
Yoshihisa Maruta, chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, believes that without clear technical standards on fuel quality and suitable fuel supplies, the deadline for the application of the Euro 4 standard should be extended, reports VietnamNet.
The country has been preparing the new legislation for four years as part of a larger effort to help the transportation industry go green.
