Phase1 and phase2 for subsidies standard of replacing high-emission cars. Image: 360che.com .
Stricter emission standards for cars to improve air quality in the capital was announced.
Starting on Dec15, gasoline cars with National I and II emission standards (which mainly indicate cars that were sold before 2006) will be banned on all roads in Beijing when the city has an orange or red air-quality alert. Furthermore, those cars will be banned from the road within fifth ring from Monday to Friday starting on Feb 15 next year.
There are 5.7 million cars in Beijing, which produce about 500,000 metric tons of polluting emissions annually, according to the bureau. Thus Car emissions are one of the major sources of air pollution in Beijing, and the number of cars in the cityis still growing.
The number of cars with National I and II emission standards make up 8% of the cars registered in Beijing. However, the emissions from those cars account for more than 30% of all emissions from cars in the city because of their low standards, according to Fang Li, spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.
To encourage car owners to replace their high-emission cars, the government is providing owners with subsidies of between 5,000 yuan and 12,000 yuan. The subsidies will be given from Dec 1 to the end of next year. The banks are also required by authorities to give loans on favorable terms to people who replace their high-emission cars.
