Abstract
Worldwide, the transport sector is a leading contributor to both energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It currently accounts for 19 % of global energy use and 23 % of global energy-related CO2 emissions. In China, transport contributed 7–8 % to the nation’s GHG emissions, but this value will increase rapidly in the coming years because China is in a period of significant growth in travel demand and vehicle ownership. Numerous actions have been taken to reduce the energy demand and GHG emissions for the transport sector, such as implementing fuel economy standards, promoting advanced vehicles and alternative fuels, and developing a high-speed railway system. This chapter analyses previous and soon-to-be implemented policies to control energy use and GHG emissions from transport in China, and then discusses the challenges and opportunities for China in building a low-carbon, clean, and sustainable transport system. Currently, technical measures to improve the fuel efficiency of transport dominate Chinese policy solutions, but a long-term strategy to decrease energy use and GHG emissions from China’s transport system will likely rely on improving the railway transport system.
Dr. Hong Huo, Associate Professor, Institute of Energy, Environment, and Economy, Tsinghua University; Email: hhuo@tsinghua.edu.cn.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
China’s State Council (2012) Development Plan of Energy-Efficient and New-Energy Vehicles (2012–2020). Beijing. http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2012-07/09/content_2179032.htm [accessed 31 July 2012].
Civil Aviation Administration of China (2000–12) China’s Aviation Yearbook. Beijing: China Civil Aviation Press.
European Commission (2014) EU Energy in Figures: Statistical Pocketbook 2014. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, Standardization Administration of China (2004) Limits of Fuel Consumption for Passenger Cars (GB 19578-2004).
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, Standardization Administration of China (2007) Limits of Fuel Consumption for Light Duty Commercial Vehicles (GB 20997-2007).
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, Standardization Administration of China (2011) Fuel Consumption Evaluation Methods and Targets for Passenger Cars (GB 27999-2011).
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, Standardization Administration of China (2014a) Fuel Consumption Limits for Passenger Cars (GB 19578-2014).
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, Standardization Administration of China (2014b) Fuel Consumption Evaluation Methods and Targets for Passenger Cars (GB 27999-2014).
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, Standardization Administration of China (2014c) Fuel Consumption Limits for Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles (GB30510-2014).
Huo, H. and M. Wang (2012) “Modeling Future Vehicle Sales and Stock in China”. Energy Policy 43: 17–29.
Huo, H., Q. Zhang, M. Wang et al. (2010) “Environmental Implication of Electric Vehicles in China”. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44: 4856–61.
Huo, H., Z. Yao, K. He and X. Yu (2011) “Fuel Consumption Rates of Passenger Cars in China: Labels versus Real-World”. Energy Policy 39: 7130–5.
Huo, H., Q. Zhang, K.B. He et al. (2012) “Vehicle-Use Intensity in China: Current Status and Future Trend”. Energy Policy 43: 6–16.
Huo, H., Q. Zhang, F. Liu, and K. He (2013) “Climate and Environmental Effects of Electric Vehicles versus Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles in China: A Life-Cycle Analysis at Provincial Level”. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47: 1711−8.
ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation) (2012) Global Comparison of Light-Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy/GHG Emissions Standards. http://www.theicct.org/sites/default/files/info-tools/ICCT_PVStd_June2012_v0.pdf [accessed 29 May 2014].
IEA (International Energy Agency) (2009) Transport, Energy and CO 2 : Moving toward Sustainability. https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/transport2009.pdf [accessed 29 May 2014].
International Energy Agency (2013) Global EV Outlook: Understanding the Electric Vehicle Landscape to 2020. https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/GlobalEVOutlook_2013.pdf [accessed 1 August 2013].
International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles (2012) China’s NGV Growth Accelerating. http://www.iangv.org/2012/06/chinas-ngv-growth-accelerating/ [accessed 31 July 2012].
Ministry of the Environment, Japan (2014) National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report of Japan. Ibaraki, Japan: National Institute for Environmental Studies.
Ministry of Transport of China (2011) 12th Five-Year Development Plan for Transport. http://www.moc.gov.cn/zhuantizhuanlan/jiaotongguihua/shierwujiaotongyunshufazhanguihua/ [accessed 29 May 2014].
National Bureau of Statistics of China (2013) China Statistical Yearbook 2013. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
National Railway Administration of China (2012) 12th Five-Year Development Plan for Railway. http://www.nra.gov.cn/fwyd/hyjc/ghfz/tlhygh/tlsewfzgh/ [accessed 29 May 2014].
Railway Statistics Centre of China (2008–2012) Railway Statistics Abstract. Beijing: China Railway Publishing House.
Statistics Bureau of Japan (2013) Japan Statistical Yearbook 2013. Tokyo: Statistics Bureau of Japan.
US Environmental Protection Agency (2014) “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2012”. US EPA report, EPA 430-R-14-003.
US Department of Transportation (2014) U.S. Passenger-Miles. http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/index.html [accessed 31 July 2015].
Wang, Z., Y. Jin, M. Wang and W. Wu (2010) “New Fuel Consumption Standards for Chinese Passenger Vehicles and Their Effects on Reductions of Oil Use and CO2 Emissions of the Chinese Passenger Vehicle Fleet”. Energy Policy 38: 5242–50.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Huo, H. (2016). Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Strategies for Vehicles and Transport Systems in China. In: Su, B., Thomson, E. (eds) China's Energy Efficiency and Conservation. SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace, vol 30. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0737-8_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0737-8_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0735-4
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0737-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)