In efforts to relieve the streets in Shanghai from toxic exhaust
fumes, 1,500 new buses with cleaner emissions have joined routes
across town so far this year.
In total, 1,750 old buses will be replaced this year, said Huang
Xiaoyong, a spokesman for Shanghai Urban Transport Management
Bureau, yesterday.
"We are trying to reach our goal of replacing about 2,000 buses
a year over the next two years," Huang said. The new buses are made
by Shanghai Sunwin Bus Co, a joint venture of Shanghai Automotive
Industry Co and Swedish-based Volvo Bus Co, said the bureau.
They all meet National III emission standards, the highest
technical exhaust standards for buses in China, which is comparable
to Euro III standards.
Bus companies are required to upgrade their vehicles and pay for
them.
Shanghai has about 18,200 buses operating daily. Most are
diesel-powered, with 60 percent of them meeting Euro II emission
standards.
Health concerns have been growing over the black fumes pumped
out by older buses. They contain cancer-causing chemicals such as
nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and lead.
Transport officials said poor maintenance could also lead to
toxic fumes. "The use of poor-quality fuel, insufficient daily
maintenance and traffic jams that force drivers to slow down are
also to blame for black fumes," said Huang.
"We are monitoring the bus companies to spot vehicles in poor
condition. The operators must take the buses out of service,
improve them and they will not be allowed back on the roads until
they pass our tests," Huang said.
The bureau aims to upgrade all city buses to meet National II
emission standards by 2009.
(Shanghai Daily July 12, 2007)
