One of the first tasks of the committee is to measure the accuracy of the current grade system based on the concentration of fine dust emitted by motor vehicles. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Korea Bizwire) – A technical committee tasked with verifying the accuracy of current databases for car exhaust emissions per each car model type has been launched by Ministry of Environment, according to an announcement by the ministry yesterday.
The committee is composed of 30 professionals in the industry including researchers attached to the ministry, car manufacturers and activists.
One of the first tasks of the committee is to measure the accuracy of the current grade system based on the concentration of fine dust emitted by motor vehicles.
In addition, the committee will aim to find various solutions for car-related data management and create promotional materials that raise awareness of government policies on driving practices that follow emissions guidelines.
The ministry is currently aiming to create a database that rates vehicular fine dust emissions to be completed by the second half of next year. All of the 23 million cars currently in the nation are subject to the rating.
The ministry will finish weeding out the grade-5 level vehicles by November and possibly imposing them with driving limits in the Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi areas. Car owners will be notified of the results from December 1 onwards.
According to the new guidelines, electric and hydrogen cars will be classified grade 1 while vehicles running on petrol and liquified petroleum gas will be categorized into grades 1 to 5.
Recent diesel car models will be classified as grade 3, while older diesel models will be given a grade 5 rating.
Vehicles with a grade 5 rating will be imposed with driving limitations in metropolitan Seoul starting February 15 of next year, until a measure is created to help fight the high density of fine dust in the air.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
