In Search of Fresh Air

A report issued by a research team under the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that vehicle exhaust fumes are among Beijing's top sources of air pollution, contributing to 22.2 percent of PM2.5 density in the city, exceeding the figure for industry emissions.

The city has to reduce vehicle fuel consumption by promoting new-energy and small-displacement vehicles, reducing the intensity of vehicle use and more strictly implementing relevant regulations, Li Kunsheng, Director of the Vehicles Emission Management Division under the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, told Beijing Review.

"By 2017, the total number of vehicles in Beijing should be less than 6 million units, while the total fuel consumption should be 5 percent less than the 2012 level," said Li.

"Beijing will further enhance the emission standard for new cars and accelerate the retirement of vehicles. Meanwhile, vehicle structural adjustment will be rolled out for 10 major sectors, including bus, taxi, inter-provincial coach and postal car," he said.

Li said Beijing buses have always been pioneers of new emission standards and new energy vehicles. "Now, Beijing buses are developing toward being natural gas-powered and electricity-powered."

Zhong Qianghua, chief engineer of Beijing Public Transport Holdings, the city's primary public bus operator, said Beijing buses will continue to be the green forces of ground transportation.

"From now on, new energy and clean energy buses will account for over 70 percent of newly added buses. By 2017, they will account for 65 percent of the total. Within the five rings, there will be over 20 percent electrical and 50 percent LNG (liquefied natural gas) buses. Fuel emission will be reduced by at least 40 percent," said Zhong.