EURO4 standards will be applied to 'tighten' motorbike emissions

Instead of restricting motorbikes, why not tighten emissions?

According to information from the Ministry of Transport , during the meeting, VAMM Chairman Koji Sugita announced the main directions and solutions for carbon neutrality in Vietnam. Accordingly, major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang have plans to limit motorbikes by 2030 to reduce pollution, traffic congestion, and traffic accidents. However, Mr. Koji Sugita assessed that with the current traffic situation in Vietnam, motorbikes are still the main means of transport for people. Therefore, until public transport is ready, motorbikes will still be the main means of transport.

Old motorbikes on the road are a major cause of environmental pollution.

As a motorbike manufacturer, VAMM believes that instead of restricting the operation of personal motorbikes, there should be many other solutions to solve the problem of environmental pollution and traffic accidents such as controlling emissions from vehicles in circulation or applying EURO4 emission standards.

Specifically, VAMM proposed to issue a roadmap and EURO4 standards in 2024 for early application to contribute to the goal of reducing environmental pollution. The association will review the capacity of the inspection network and make specific recommendations this year to cooperate in developing feasible regulations.

"Applying EURO4 to new vehicles and controlling emissions from vehicles in circulation is an effective solution to reduce environmental pollution. In addition, the Government 's goal is to stop producing and importing gasoline motorbikes by 2040 and to use 100% of electric motorbikes and scooters by 2050. Switching to electric vehicles is a future direction, but to protect consumers and the industry, the conversion needs to be done step by step with full consideration of alternative solutions," said Mr. Koji Sugita.

Appreciating the support and companionship of VAMM in coordinating the implementation of traffic safety programs, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang also acknowledged the proposed solutions to reduce CO2 emissions, contributing to raising public awareness of road traffic safety in Vietnam.

The Minister said that after strong commitments at the COP26 Conference and strong directions from the Prime Minister , the Ministry of Transport has proactively implemented tasks related to the transport sector.

Regarding the application of EURO4 emission standards, the Ministry is currently assigning the Vietnam Register to study and soon develop a roadmap to regulate the increase of emission standards for newly manufactured, assembled and imported motor vehicles to submit to the Government for promulgation. At the same time, efforts are being made to accelerate the roadmap to apply EURO4 emission standards to motorbikes and scooters. At the same time, the Ministry of Transport has also coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security to add regulations on emission control of motorbikes and scooters in circulation to the draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety to submit to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

It is undeniable that motorbikes will still be a popular means of transportation in Vietnam in the coming years, however, the Ministry of Transport's viewpoint is to support the use of green fuels such as hydrogen fuel and biofuel, contributing to improving environmental pollution by reducing the creation of emissions in traditional fuels. Therefore, Vietnam also hopes that businesses will make efforts to produce new vehicle models that meet environmental protection conditions.

Driving electric motorbikes and vehicles under 50cc also requires a driver's license

Also at the meeting, Mr. Sugita commented on the actual situation in Vietnam, the rate of traffic accidents among students is high but there are currently no regulations on driving licenses for this group. The Association proposed that, in order to ensure traffic safety, it is necessary to apply the issuance of certificates and driving licenses for motorbike and electric motorbike drivers with mandatory exams like in many countries around the world. VAMM is ready to cooperate with the Government and the Ministry of Transport to develop feasible regulations such as training, licensing, etc.

Students driving electric motorbikes and 50cc motorbikes on Le Duc Tho street (Go Vap district)

This is also the content that some National Assembly Deputies discussed at the National Assembly during the National Assembly session held in November 2023. Data from the National Traffic Safety Committee shows that some recent studies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City show that 90% of serious traffic accidents involving children are in the group of children who ride to school by themselves (from 16 to 18 years old); about 52% of students go to school by electric bicycles or motorbikes but do not have a driver's license. Currently, schools are integrating traffic safety education into the main curriculum, but students are only exposed to theory. Meanwhile, many European countries require users of electric vehicles and motorbikes under 50cc to attend classes on traffic laws and basic skills; after completing the course, there will be a test to issue a certificate or driver's license.

Regarding this issue, Minister Nguyen Van Thang informed that the Ministry of Public Security is in charge of developing and including in the draft Road Traffic Law regulations on driver's license classification such as A1, A...

"The Ministry of Transport supports the addition of regulations on driving licenses for students driving electric motorbikes and electric scooters. These subjects need to understand the regulations on Road Traffic Safety. The Ministry of Transport requests VAMM to continue researching, participating and giving more comments to the Ministry of Public Security, the agency in charge of drafting the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, on these contents. The Ministry of Transport will also continue to review and participate with the Ministry of Public Security on the management of electric motorbikes and electric scooters in Vietnam," the commander of the transport sector affirmed.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/se-ap-tieu-chuan-euro4-de-siet-khi-thai-xe-may-185240117091953772.htm