Compulsory standards will be introduced in 2015

When the car accelerates into the home, the problem of indoor air pollution has become a hot spot for consumers, but a large number of related complaints cannot be successfully compensated by manufacturers because of the Guidelines for Air Quality Assessment of Passenger Cars that were implemented from March 2012. Only a recommended standard, no restrictions on car prices. Yesterday, the reporter learned from the National Indoor Vehicle Environment and Environmental Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center that internal standards for air quality in cars have not been implemented. Currently, the environmental protection department is preparing to revise the Guidelines for Air Quality Assessment of Passenger Vehicles. In 2015, the mandatory standards for air quality in passenger cars will be issued.

Seriously polluted vehicles were forcibly recalled. At the end of last year, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other 22 consumer rights safeguarding units jointly with the Beijing Municipal Institute of Labor Protection conducted the first comparison of the indoor air quality test of vehicles based on the “Guidelines for air quality in passenger vehicles”. activity.

The inspection report shows that 43 of the 25 vehicle brands in use have a 93.02% compliance rate for the air quality in the vehicle. Only 3 vehicle samples have excessive concentrations of volatile organic compounds in the vehicle. Excess VOCs are formaldehyde or acetaldehyde. . Experts involved in comparative tests revealed that the test results obviously differ greatly from the public’s perception of air pollution in the vehicle. One of the important reasons is that the ambient temperature at the time of testing by the national standard is only 25 degrees Celsius, but the vehicle is often subjected to actual use. High temperature test exceeding 50 degrees Celsius.

According to Song Guangsheng, director of the National Indoor Environment and Environmental Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, the new mandatory standards will improve the monitoring methods for air quality in the vehicle, making it closer to the actual use of the vehicle.

At present, the air quality monitoring method for passenger cars is to allow vehicles to seal for 16 hours and measure the concentration of pollutants at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. In fact, some volatile organic pollutants do not necessarily show up at 25 degrees Celsius, especially in the summer. In addition, the new standard will also increase the types of monitoring of pollutants, and expand on the basis of the existing recommended standards for monitoring benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein.

According to the Director of Standardization Division of the Department of Science and Technology Standards of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Xiaofei Xiao disclosed that the revision of the air quality standards for vehicles has been included in the 2014 standard setting plan. The preliminary consideration is to remove the words “evaluation guideline” and it is called inside the passenger car. Environmental quality standards. The environmental protection department will also coordinate with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to improve the air quality in the vehicle by controlling the quality standards of automotive products. For example, the recall of a defective car can also cover the health hazards of air pollution in the car, and force vehicles with serious pollution to be recalled.

The pollution of high-end vehicles is even more serious. During the "3·15" period this year, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine released the four major problems concerning the quality of automobiles last year, and the air smell in cars was among them. The detection of indoor air quality by 12 typical models recently selected by the Beijing Municipal Institute of Product Quality Supervision and Inspection also showed that the overall qualification rate was not satisfactory. Three vehicles exceeded the standard by two to three times and five cars exceeded the standard for acetaldehyde.

Which model air pollution is light? This is a very confusing issue for consumers.

According to a new research report released by a US health website, of all the more than 200 models tested, the internal air quality of many global best-selling models is not up to standard. Among them, the Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, Honda CR-Z, Nissan Cube, and Acura RDX were the top five air quality cars, while the five air quality worst cars were Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Chrysler 200, Kia Soul, and Nissan. Versa, Mazda CX-7.

The above test results are difficult to directly use as a reference for Chinese consumers because the proportion of locally-purchased models produced by joint-venture brands in China is already high, and there is a large difference in the material source of vehicles sold in the United States.

Some consumers speculated that the luxury car price is higher, the application of environmental protection materials will be more extensive, and perhaps the air quality in the car will be more secure. In response, Song Guangsheng reminded that in fact, the pollution problems of the more expensive high-end models will be more serious, because the requirements for light weight and comfort make manufacturers use non-metallic materials, such as damping plates, synthetic rubber, etc., in high-end cars, while high-end cars Sealing is very good, making it difficult to release volatile pollutants outside the vehicle. On the contrary, some low-end vehicles use more conventional materials and the release of pollutants may be less.

What needs to be reminded is that air pollution in the car is not just a problem with new cars. Used cars also exist. Tests conducted by a professional institution in China showed that in the case of high-temperature airtight parking for 4 hours after direct sunlight, the concentration of pollutants doubled in both new and old vehicles.

The extension of the mandatory national standard of news will not push up the price of the car. In the past two years, the voice of upgrading the national standard of air quality inside the car has been constantly heard, but it has been opposed by many auto manufacturers.

“The automobile market is fiercely competitive, the cost reduction has reached its peak, and the air quality in the car is really required to be up to standard. Raw materials procurement and production process transformation need to invest huge sums of money.” A person in charge of the production of a car company frankly stated that the mandatory national standard may push up the vehicle price.

In this regard, Song Guangsheng believes that there are three sources of air pollution in the vehicle: First, the air pollution caused by the process and materials in the automobile production process, such as the spray painting process, the damping plate material application of the chassis, etc.; second, the use of functional materials. , Such as sound insulation panels; third is a variety of interior parts involving adhesives, seats, carpets, textiles and so on.

"At present, most manufacturers have already referred to the recommended national standard for the adjustment of production processes and the quality control of parts and components. There is a certain reserve in technology. At the same time, the air quality in the car has risen to a global topic. The conditions for the introduction of mandatory standards are ripe." Song Guangsheng believes that car companies will balance the comfort, lightness, and environmental protection according to the mandatory national standard, which may not necessarily lead to a rise in vehicle prices.

For example, in the automotive production process, the use of plastics and paints can be reduced. In the automotive interior, raw materials can be used without pollution, and alternative solutions can be found without reducing the physical properties of the original materials. Finally, it is supplemented by external conditions such as ventilation and purification devices to achieve a healthy and safe air quality in the vehicle.

The U.S.-based International Technology Assessment Center appealed that if it does not attract enough attention, the air in the car will become one of the greatest modern threats to human health. The center suggests that the car should pay attention to maintaining the normal maintenance of the vehicle. Vehicles with engine failure will emit more exhaust gas and harmful substances, making the vehicle owner more vulnerable to toxic gases. Most of the vehicles mainly ventilate as much as possible, especially after high-temperature exposure to allow the air to circulate and then close the windows.