Draft regulations on new fuel consumption figures for passenger cars.

In the draft Vietnamese standard (TCVN) on fuel consumption currently under public consultation, the Ministry of Construction proposes an average fuel consumption of 4.83 liters/100km for passenger cars in Vietnam by 2030. This information has raised concerns about its feasibility, given the projected implementation date of five years.

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Specifically, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) argues that the target of an average fuel consumption of 4.83 liters/100km by 2030 is too stringent. Currently, about 96% of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles and 14% of hybrid vehicles do not meet the standards proposed by the regulatory authorities.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Le Hong Viet, Deputy Director of the Center for Testing Emissions of Motor Vehicles (Vietnam Registering Agency), stated: “The draft Vietnamese National Standard (TCVN) on new fuel consumption levels is currently undergoing consultation. The scope of application of the standard only applies to newly manufactured, assembled, and imported vehicles, not to vehicles already in circulation. Furthermore, the average fuel consumption of 4.83 liters/100km does not apply directly to each vehicle model or each enterprise, but is a national average target; each enterprise will have its own target based on its product structure and the average volume of its fleet of vehicles produced or imported.”

According to Mr. Viet, the drafting committee is still continuing to research and assess the detailed impact based on market data and domestic vehicle development trends, especially the increasing proportion of electric vehicles, in order to develop a reasonable implementation roadmap that ensures both fulfillment of international commitments and suitability to the practical conditions of businesses and the Vietnamese market.

According to the Vietnam Register, Vietnam is currently in the process of applying energy efficiency labeling and Level 5 emission testing to passenger cars with 9 seats or fewer that are manufactured, assembled from new, separate components, or imported unused.

However, current circulars guiding energy labeling and QCVN 109:2024/BGTVT do not specify _CO2 emission levels or fuel consumption limits for passenger cars. Therefore, the application of these legal regulations has not been highly effective in reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector.

In 2013, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued TCVN 9854:2013 on fuel consumption limits and determination methods for passenger cars, but it was not yet mandated. Therefore, replacing TCVN 9854:2013 is necessary, providing a basis for manufacturers, assemblers, and importers of automobiles to prepare accordingly.

According to assessments, fuel-efficient vehicles will help reduce daily operating costs for users. For example, a reduction of 0.5-1.0 liters/100km can save millions of VND per year per vehicle. For transportation businesses, reduced fuel costs will help increase profits, lower service prices, and enhance competitiveness. In the long term, as the vehicle structure gradually shifts towards hybrid/EVs, fuel costs will decrease even more significantly, reducing the pressure on gasoline imports.

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/du-thao-ve-muc-tieu-thu-nhien-lieu-moi-cua-xe-con-post814273.html