Beijing not ready to lift ban on diesels just yet
According to reports from Xinhua News Agency, the Beijing Government is not ready to lift bans on diesel car sales, and is getting ready to enforce a local law stating that all cars sold in Beijing must be up ‘Chinese 5‘ emissions standards, which is the same as the Euro 5 specification.
Also, the Beijing government aims to have all of its civil service vehicles (mail vans, garbage trucks, delivery trucks, buses etc) upto Euro 5 specifications by July 1st.
A Beijing Govt spokesperson said that Beijing will allow the sales of diesels again, but only when diesel engines reach Euro 5 specification.
China Car Times is aware that several VW diesel models are amongst the cleanest cars sold in terms of Co2 emissions – we’re not quite sure why diesel never took off, or why the central government recently decided to support hybrid technology over diesel technology. We would have thought that VW, one of the first car makers in China would have done some more convincing lobbying of the government to win over the diesel standard!
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You are right Ash. VW as an early entrant into the game, and highly respected, had the wherewithal to make a go of diesel passenger cars but it didn’t run with the ball. It’s too late now as I see it.
Is it too late? There are a number of cars on sale in Europe that have (or will have) Euro 5 diesels.
I think the new Common Rail VW diesels (currently 2L 140hp and 2L 170ho) that replaced the PD units (of same power) are Euro 5.
Honda’s new 2.2 diesel is Euro 5 and I think the new Fiat 1.6 16v diesels are also Euro 5. So if the diesels are there why don’t they use them and pick up the diesel ball again?
The problem in China was always the poor quality of the Chinese diesel fuel, not good enough for these high-tech engines.
Yeah, I have to agree with Erik. I think the problem is Chinese diesel fuel is high in sulphur. A high sulphur content would wreak havoc on the emissions control systems of most clean diesel engines.
I guess they should bring in a different type of diesel and charge a little more for it. The way unleaded/leaded was introduced into Europe would be a good study for the peoples that be.
Mammoth Sinopec, with blood on its hands from its holdings in Darfur, was supposed to be bringing down the sulfur level from 2000 PPM to 500 PPM back as early as 2005, but I don’t think it ever happened. The US and Europe produce fuels that are 500 PPM or below.
Yes, this is a challenge for SVW & FAW-VWAudi, but like you suggest Ash, in Germany and Europe fuel wasn’t always low in sulfur content.