Beijing to Introduce Tougher Auto Emission Standards     

Beijing will introduce tougher auto emission standards at the beginning of 2008, as air pollution has become a major concern for the city in the preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.
    There are 3.1 million motor vehicles in Beijing at present. Despite a rapid increase in the number of motor vehicles in recent years, Beijing has managed to reduce nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, two main pollutants in exhaust emission, in the air.
    "It is expected the new standards will reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide pumped out onto the streets of Beijing by automobile exhausts by 1 840 tons per year", said Feng Yuqiao, an official of the Beijing environment protection bureau.
    Automobile distributors in Beijing are preparing for the new China IV standards that are equivalent to the Euro IV standards in the European Union, the official added.
    Feng also said: "All the gas stations in Beijing will provide gasoline and diesel that meet the requirements of the new standards starting from January 1st, 2008."
    The current China III standards, equivalent to the Euro III standards, have greatly reduced sulfur dioxide emissions from automobile exhausts.
    To reduce pollutants in emission, some buses in Beijing have already used the fuel that meets the China IV standards.