On September 1 this year, heavy-duty diesel vehicles will fully implement the Euro VI emission standards. This new emission standard will improve air quality, reduce the greenhouse effect, and accelerate traffic greening. It is also an important policy that people who care about environmental protection have long awaited.

The Environmental Protection Agency revised the "Air Pollutant Emission Standards for Vehicles" at the end of 2016, adding emission standards that will be implemented for heavy-duty diesel vehicles from September 1, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as the "Phase 6 Emission Standards"). Later, after the government considered the industry's production line replacement situation, it gave the fifth phase of heavy-duty diesel vehicles a two-year buffer in June 2019. This emission standard was formulated with reference to the "Euro VI Emission Standards". Compared with the current Phase V emission standards, the Phase VI emission standards have strengthened pollution control limits. Particulate pollutants related to PM2.5 have been tightened by about 50%, nitrogen oxides (NOX) entering the alveoli have been tightened by about 80%, and new regulations have been added to control ammonia (NH3) and the number of granular pollutants (PN). There are only 17 trucks that meet the Phase 6 emission standards. Compared with trucks in the same class that are behind the Phase 5 emission standards, the annual carbon emissions saved are equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of 1.2 Daan Forest Parks. If more than 26,000 Phase 5 emission standard heavy-duty diesel vehicles currently on the market are all replaced by vehicles that meet the Phase 6 emission standards, the carbon emissions absorbed will exceed 1,800 Daan Forest Parks. It is obvious that the sixth phase of emission standards will improve air quality and achieve the goal of carbon emission reduction.

The European Union introduced the EU Phase I emission standards as early as 1992 to reduce air pollution and the greenhouse effect caused by vehicle exhaust emissions. In 2019, the European Commission announced the European Green Deal, revealing the EU's 2050 carbon neutrality goal, with carbon emission reduction as one of the important projects. The European Commission announced the draft of the "European Seven Emission Standards" at the end of 2020, which significantly increased vehicle emission limits. In July this year, the European Commission proposed a proposal to ban the sale of fuel vehicles in the EU in 2035. Not only the EU, but also G20 member states have widely adopted EU carbon emission standards. Asia, including Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore, have also followed the EU's lead in implementing the sixth phase of emission standards.

The EU's Phase VI emission standards for heavy-duty diesel vehicles will be officially implemented on September 1 this year after a two-year buffer period. This is an important step for Taiwan's vehicle industry to align with international trends. Under the sixth phase of emission standards, in addition to improving air quality, improving domestic air pollution and reducing carbon emissions, it will also drive industrial upgrading and help enhance national competitiveness. Members of the European Chamber of Commerce also provide relevant preferential programs for heavy-duty diesel vehicles that meet the Phase 6 emission standards to assist domestic manufacturers in upgrading to heavy-duty diesel vehicles that meet the Phase 6 emission standards, and work together to provide clean air to the people of Taiwan.