It has been a long time coming, but Singapore is poised to raise emission standards for petrol vehicles here - something it has not done in 10 years.
The new standard, called Euro IV, will apply only to new vehicles. It will cut the amount of harmful pollutants in the air, including substances that can cause cancer and respiratory ailments.
But the improved air quality will mean incremental cost increases for motorists, who may have to pay more for some vehicle models and, almost certainly, for better quality fuels required by the new standard.
The Straits Times understands that the expected date for implementation is early 2014, but the National Environment Agency (NEA) did not want to comment on the timeline when approached.
It is understood that the agency has sounded out the motor and oil industries on the new emission standard.
‘We confirm that the NEA has engaged us in these discussions,’ an ExxonMobil spokesman said.
Motor Traders Association vice-president Michael Wong said the NEA had made some inquiries on how quickly the industry could meet a new standard.
‘We told them we need ample lead time, at least 18 months’ notice,’ he said.
The last time Singapore raised the emission standard for petrol vehicles was in 2001, when it implemented Euro II.
Like many countries, Singapore uses European emission standards, which are graded Euro I to VI, with the higher grades being more stringent.
It is understood that Singapore will move from Euro II to Euro IV for petrol vehicles, bypassing Euro III, to be in step with attempts worldwide to lower pollution from vehicles.
Europe adopted the Euro IV standard for petrol vehicles in 2005, Hong Kong did so in 2006, and a number of Chinese cities have either followed suit or are planning to soon. In Japan and the United States, equivalent standards are in place.
Euro IV is significantly more stringent than Euro II. For instance, a car cannot emit more than 1g of carbon monoxide per kilometre - 70 per cent less than allowed in Euro II.
Hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions are slashed by a similar amount, to 0.1g/km and 0.08g/km respectively.
All these pollutants are harmful. Hydrocarbons, for instance, have been found to cause cancer, while nitrogen oxide harms the respiratory system. Carbon monoxide is highly toxic at certain levels.
Dr Winston Lee, a medical practitioner and veteran automotive writer, said the move was ‘good but overdue’.
Singapore Environment Council executive director Howard Shaw agreed. ‘It is a welcome move, but it could have been a bit faster,’ he said.
The oil industry has long indicated that cost was a major hindrance to meeting new standards. Companies said hundreds of millions had to be spent on plants to reduce sulphur - a major determinant of tailpipe emissions - from fuel.
Currently, petrol sold here contains 500 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur. Euro IV stipulates 50ppm.
Consumers will ultimately bear the cost of lower sulphur fuels, industry watchers said.
Mr Ng Weng Hoong, editor of energy news portal EnergyAsia, said: ‘If I had just spent $500 million to build a desulphurisation plant, you can be sure I will try to recover the cost. It is inevitable, driving will become more and more expensive.’
The oil companies refused to comment on the potential price impact.
Motor traders said some car prices will rise because of Euro IV. These would be non-European makes that do not have Euro IV models, which typically have more sophisticated engines and catalytic converters. Their sticker prices could rise by as much as 20 per cent.
Meanwhile, the NEA indicated that it is also looking to raise the standard for diesel vehicles from the current Euro IV - implemented here in 2006 - to Euro V.
Again, the agency would not commit to a date, merely saying it would ‘implement the new standard when it is cost effective to do so’.
According to sources, implementation will also take place in 2014.
Meeting Euro V entails lowering the sulphur content of diesel fuel here from 50ppm to 10ppm.
ExxonMobil recently announced it will be building a plant in Jurong to produce such diesel. It will be ready by 2014.
