Reducing In-Use Vehicle Emissions – Time for Action!!

Abstract:

Throughout Asia, vehicle-related air pollution continues to be a major social and economic problem. Over the past decade or more, numerous studies and pilot programs have delivered a wealth of information and data on the impacts, practicality and timelines associated with various emission reduction strategies. Adopting contemporary certification standards and improving fuel quality are certainly critical for achieving medium to long term emission reductions, and many countries are moving in this direction. However, the reality is that existing, in-use vehicles will continue to be the dominant source of pollution for many years. A single older vehicle in a poor state of maintenance can generate pollution levels hundreds of times higher than its new, current technology counterpart. But time and time again, practical real-world research has shown that straightforward, targeted maintenance on these vehicles can cut their emissions by up to 80%. Yet, with few exceptions, little has been done to implement large-scale programs which would deal with this problem in an effective manner. Of course there are many economic, industry and social issues to be dealt with when introducing broad-based emission reduction initiatives, and these factors have caused many authorities to hesitate. This presentation outlines how public-private partnerships, already successfully implemented in a number of regions, can:

• harness new technologies to maximize emission reductions
• be implemented on a revenue neutral basis
• use objective performance-based criteria for decision-making
• validate the effectiveness of repairs and maintenance
• minimize the potential for cheating and fraud
• maintain or even enhance related vehicle business activity
• also incorporate performance-based vehicle safety assessments
• generate and continuously update reliable and relevant (almost 100% sample) emission inventory data.