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08-06-2007
The
spread of modern diesel engines using common-rail
technology faces barriers in China. They cost
more than standard diesels. China¡¯s
impure diesel fuel can damage common rail parts.
And the government¡¯s schedule for
tightening emissions rules is unclear.
High costs are a major barrier.
The price of an engine equipped with a common
rail system from Robert Bosch GmbH will be more
than 20,000 yuan ($2,588) higher than an engine
with a standard pump, says Mo Rongbo, director
of the technical center of Dongfeng Liuzhou
Motor Co. Dongfeng Liuzhou is a unit of Dongfeng
Automobile Corp.
Most customers won¡¯t pay the higher
price unless they have to install the system
in order to meet government regulations.
But the timing of those regulations is uncertain.
The government says heavy-duty vehicles sold
in China should meet so-called Euro 3 emissions
standards starting Jan. 1, 2008. Light-duty
diesels must meet the standard from July 1,
2008.
However, there are some doubts as to whether
the government will enforce the regulations
according to the official schedule.
Industry experts say there is a dispute between
the National Development and Reform Commission
and the State Environmental Protection Administration
of China. The former wants to postpone the regulations,
while the latter wants to stick to the schedule.
The latter says enforcement can¡¯t
wait due to China¡¯s serious pollution
problems.
"The implementation of the standard won¡¯t
be postponed," an off icial of the State
Environmental Protection Administration told
Automotive News China in a telephone interview.
China¡¯s emissions rules are based
on Europe¡¯s. Under the Euro 3 standard,
engines must produce no more than 50 milligrams
of particulate matter per kilometer. In 2005,
Europe adopted the stricter Euro 4 standard,
which requires no more than 25 milligrams per
kilometer.
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