Thailand trying to bring vehicle emissions under control

[Gaybutton]

Fingers crossed on this one. This might work if they actually enforce the rules and don't let up on the enforcement. However, I'm still waiting for proper enforcement of the rules that have been there all along in the first place.
_________________________________________________

Thai emission laws transform: What drivers need to know

by Sarishti Arora

February 4, 2024

Thailand is stepping up its game in the fight against air pollution with stringent vehicle emission standards. Spearheaded by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute and the Pollution Control Department, these regulations are a testament to Thailand’s commitment to cleaner air and a healthier environment.

In a significant move, Thailand has embraced the Euro 5 standard for diesel fuel, set to kick in from January 1, 2024. This leap, aimed at curbing pollutants from vehicles, aligns the country with European emission benchmarks, showcasing a dedicated effort to cut down on nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide emissions. It’s a bold step forward in Thailand’s journey towards sustainability and public health protection.

Thailand’s journey towards these current standards is rooted in a history of environmental consciousness. The Pollution Control Department, established in 1992, underscores the nation’s long-running commitment to environmental quality. This backdrop highlights how Thailand has consistently evolved its regulatory framework, responding to public demands and global trends to ensure a safer, cleaner atmosphere. The historical context provides a lens through which you can appreciate the country’s proactive stance in environmental conservation.

Emissions standards

As you dive deeper into the efforts Thailand is making to curb air pollution, understanding the framework of emissions standards becomes paramount. These regulations dictate how much pollutants a vehicle can emit, ensuring cleaner air for everyone.

Euro III

In your journey to grasp Thailand’s approach to tackling vehicle pollution, you’ll find that the country has embraced the Euro III standard for heavy-duty vehicles. This crucial move aligns Thailand with stringent international norms, specifically tailored to manage emissions from larger commercial vehicles.

What does Euro III entail?

Euro III stands as a significant threshold in the battle against air pollution, setting limits on the principal pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO). Each of these components plays a role in air quality, and by putting caps on their emission, Euro III helps ensure that the air remains cleaner.

The scope of Euro III in Thailand

Here’s where it gets interactive. If you’re operating or manufacturing motor vehicles exceeding 3,500 kg, equipped with either compression ignition engines or ones running on natural gas (NG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Euro III standards are what you need to meet.

This pivotal regulation covers a broad spectrum of heavy-duty engines, ensuring they emit fewer pollutants and thus contribute significantly to Thailand’s cleaner air initiative. Since Thailand adopted these standards in May 1998, they have been instrumental in the country’s progressive environmental policies.

New vehicle regulations

In an ambitious leap forward, Thailand has charted a course towards even stricter emissions standards. With public health and the vitality of the tourism sector in mind, the country has mandated that automakers align with the Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards swiftly—by the years 2024 and 2026, respectively. This rapid transition underscores the urgency with which Thailand is addressing the air pollution challenges, particularly the menace of PM2.5 pollutants that cloud Bangkok’s skies.

Future standards

As you delve deeper into Thailand’s roadmap for cleaner air, understanding the upcoming vehicle emission regulations is crucial. The country is poised to make significant changes to its standards, adopting the more stringent Euro V and eventually, Euro VI. These changes are not just about aligning with global norms but are pivotal for safeguarding the environment and public health.

Euro V

Thailand is setting the stage for cleaner automotive emissions with the adoption of the Euro V standard, a crucial step forward in its environmental initiatives. This standard, mirroring the EU’s approach to reducing vehicular pollution, focuses on tightening the noose around nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from vehicles.

The transition to Euro V is a testament to Thailand’s commitment to a healthier environment. Starting January 1, 2024, all diesel vehicles in Thailand must meet these rigorous standards, a move delayed from 2021 due to the unprecedented global pandemic. The delay has provided automotive manufacturers the much-needed time to adjust and prepare for compliance, with some already ahead of the curve in manufacturing vehicles compliant with Euro V standards.

Euro VI

Looking beyond Euro V, Thailand has its sights set on the Euro VI standards, representing the pinnacle of current vehicle emission regulations. Euro VI significantly lowers the permissible emission levels even further, especially focusing on a drastic reduction of NOx and particulate matter, which are notorious for their health risks.

The transition to Euro VI will necessitate a major leap in technology and manufacturing processes for vehicle producers. However, Thailand’s progressive stance on adopting these standards signals a robust commitment to environmental sustainability and public health, promising a future where the air is cleaner and the streets are less polluted.

Clean air act: A whole journey

Thailand’s journey towards reducing vehicle emissions is a testament to its commitment to a healthier environment and public well-being. By adopting the Euro III standard and setting sights on the more stringent Euro V and VI standards, the country is making significant strides in the fight against air pollution. The involvement of key regulatory bodies and the introduction of comprehensive acts such as the Clean Air for the Public Act and the Management for Clean Air Act underscores a holistic approach to safeguarding air quality. With the automotive industry at a pivotal point, the shift towards cleaner vehicle technologies is not just a regulatory requirement but a crucial step toward sustainable development.

Also, check what rules and regulations Thailand offers against drunk driving and know its preventions and causes.

https://thethaiger.com/guides/automotiv ... ed-to-know

[Jun]

Having low polluting new vehicles will make very little difference if they still permit the old and unmaintained vehicles to pump out enormous quantities of black smoke.

As I write this the Sunday Morning PM2.5 reading in my room is 40 µg/m³, on a quiet Pattaya back street with little traffic.
When stood behind my running 15 year old diesel car at home, I got a reading of 4. Not measured directly at the exhaust.

[Gaybutton]

Having low polluting new vehicles will make very little difference if they still permit the old and unmaintained vehicles to pump out enormous quantities of black smoke.

Under Thai law vehicles 7 years old or older must undergo annual emissions inspection. They can only get a new annual road tax sticker if they pass inspection.

A great many cars belching out emissions look a hell of a lot older than 7 years to me and they can't possibly be passing inspection. So, they just drive without the road tax sticker in hopes the police won't catch them. Even if they are caught, the fine is probably much less than it would cost for them to fix and maintain their vehicles, plus there is usually much more than only emissions wrong with those vehicles. Many look like they have never seen the inside of a repair shop.

In my opinion, strict, long term, constant enforcement is the only way to put a stop to the polluting vehicles, at least if the pollution is obvious. It not always is.

[Jun]

I guess it's a question of who they bribe. The people doing the emissions test or the police on the rare occasions they do some emissions enforcement?
Rather than carrying out enforcement activity against polluting tour buses, I recently saw 9 particularly bad buses travelling with a police escort.
Is that what the police are supposed to be doing?

I also saw Pattaya Police having one of their regular late night roadblocks on the Thrappraya Road.
I'm not sure what they were checking, but there was certainly no emissions control equipment in sight. Also, about half the people on motorcycles were without helmets and they weren't being stopped either.

[Dodger]

It's not vehicle emissions that need to be controlled - it's the police who are supposed to enforce vehicle emission laws that need to be controlled.

Ignoring the root cause of problems seems to be a favorite pass-time over here. Go figure!

[Gaybutton]

It's not vehicle emissions that need to be controlled - it's the police who are supposed to enforce vehicle emission laws that need to be controlled.

Very good point.

I don't have any idea how many vehicles have been penalized, let alone even stopped, for emissions violations. If any have ever been stopped at all, I've never heard anything about it and have never seen a news item about it.

A point I always make is the powers-that-be, including the police, have to breathe the same air as everybody else. And if they do nothing substantial to stop it, then their own children will be growing up in a world even more polluted than the one we're living in now. Why they seem to just look the other way goes beyond me.

I've said it before and I fully believe it - if humans become extinct, we won't have to wait for the next gigantic meteor to strike the earth. We will have done it to ourselves.

[Jun]

It's not vehicle emissions that need to be controlled - it's the police who are supposed to enforce vehicle emission laws that need to be controlled.

Agreed. Until you have effective law enforcement, it doesn’t matter what laws are passed in Bangkok.
They need an independent body to investigate and prosecute corrupt police. Followed by severe punishment.

A point I always make is the powers-that-be, including the police, have to breathe the same air as everybody else. And if they do nothing substantial to stop it, then their own children will be growing up in a world even more polluted than the one we're living in now. Why they seem to just look the other way goes beyond me.

Neither health nor safety matters much here. I suspect most people don't even think about it.