Emission standards stiffer next month

Vehicles will have to meet stricter emission standards in their annual road worthiness test.

By RON FRIEDMAN
Car Test 311 (photo credit: Bloomberg News)
Car Test 311
(photo credit: Bloomberg News)
Starting on October 1, vehicles will have to meet stricter emission standards when undergoing their annual road worthiness test, the Transportation Ministry announced on Monday.
The new requirements will put the Israeli standards on par with the European Union’s. The permissible levels were determined following a study conducted at the Israel Institute of Technology- Technion.
The new test was made possible when the Knesset Finance Committee approved regulations drafted by Transportation Minister Israel Katz, updating the allowable levels of carbon monoxide in gasoline operated vehicles manufactured after 1995 and adding a test for additional carbonates for all cars manufactured before 1994, the ministry spokesman said.
Currently, vehicles must undergo tests for carbon monoxide while idle. The new regulations require newer vehicles to undergo the test while their engines operate at high revolutions per minute.
In recent months, testing garages across the country have been buying equipment to perform the new test, the spokesman said.
The carbon monoxide test will be conducted on roughly 2 million vehicles nationwide and will cost NIS 9, and the test for older vehicles will encompass 250,000 vehicles and will cost NIS 7.
“The strict testing is part of the ministry’s efforts to reduce vehicle-caused air pollution,” Katz said. “The new tests meet EU standards and acceptable levels in all developed countries.”