Research Reports
2011 China Passenger Vehicle Corporate Average Fuel Consumption Report (June 2012 / Clean Transportation Program)
On 1 January 2012, China's “Passenger Vehicle Fuel Consumption Limits” Phase III, jointly drafted by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) and major automotive producers, and approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) came into effect. This report makes use of government-sourced data and a standardized methodology to calculate the corporate average fuel consumption of different automotive groups and brands in China, and makes an analysis of fuel economy in the 11th Five-Year Development Plan, as well as trends in the implementation of the 12th Five Year Plan. This report and ranking aims to encourage companies to continuously adjust their product structures, develop more efficient vehicles and improve the implementation of their social and environmental responsibilities.
2011 China Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Annual Research Report (June 2012 / Clean Transportation Program)
This report makes use of the iCET Environmentally Friendly Vehicle rating system to report on China’s greenest cars in 11 market segments in 2011, including micro, small, compact, mid-size, large mid-size, luxury, SUV, MPV, sports, microvan and mild hybrid segments. The evaluation is based on the climate change and health impacts of the vehicle in three stages: manufacturing phase, fuel production phase and operation phase.
Energy Grass Crops for Liquid Biofuel Production: Key Questions (May 2012 / Clean Transportation Program /CHINESE)
Energy grasses are one source of feedstock for advanced biofuels. The recognition and research on energy grasses as an important contributor for liquid biofuels in China are still in their early stages. This report addresses some of the key questions related to the production and use of energy grasses in the production of transport fuels, including: “What are energy grasses?”, “What is the roadmap for the use of energy grasses for fuels in China?”, “What are the economic costs of converting energy grasses into liquid fuels?”, “What are the advantages and disadvantages of using energy grasses as a fuel feedstock?”, and “What are the existing problems and obstacles for energy grass utilization?”. This report aims to inspire scientific research institutes, government organizations and society at large to take a closer look at this potential source of transportation energy.
AB 32 Training Manuals (for official training): California Air Resources Board Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) Climate Change Measures (Recognized by California Air Resources Board) (December 2011 / Carbon Management Program / CHINESE)
As a second phase of our AB 32 project, iCET created several in-depth training manuals in Chinese on specific AB 32 greenhouse gas reduction measures –Low Carbon Fuel Standards, Energy Efficiency, Cap and Trade program linked to Western Climate Initiative, Light Duty Vehicle GHG Standards (forthcoming), and Renewables Portfolio Standard (forthcoming). Each of our individual Chinese training manuals contains substantive policy analysis conducted by iCET staff on the feasibility of AB32 measures in China and how AB32 practices can be implemented in the Chinese context. The training manuals are currently being used in workshops in China. as AB32 continues to be rolled out in CA, we plan to continue to conduct in-depth training on other AB32 measures and to take further steps in transferring California experience and best practices in implementing AB 32.
California Air Resources Board Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) Climate Change Scoping Plan (Recognized by California Air Resources Board) (2011 / Carbon Management Program / CHINESE translation)
iCET has committed itself to continue be a bridge between California and China. This year, iCET has started to introduce California’s ground-breaking Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) law to China’s government officials. iCET translated the 125+ page Scoping Plan which contains the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective strategies for California to reduce greenhouse gases. As presented by the California Air Resources Board, the AB 32 Scoping Plan has a multitude of actions which include “direct regulations, alternative compliance mechanisms, monetary and non-monetary incentives, voluntary actions, market-based mechanisms such as a cap-and-trade system, and an AB 32 program implementation regulation to fund the program.” iCET’s translation is currently undergoing further revision as AB 32 is updated and as we receive feedback from readers.
A Global Overview on Fuel Efficiency and Motor Vehicle Emission Standards: Policy Options and Perspectives for International Cooperation (for UNCSD) (March 2011 / Clean Transportation Program)
The report provides updated profiles for the United States (both federal and California approach), the European Union, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Canada, India and Latin American developing countries and outlines challenges and potential solutions for methodologies for comparing standards between different countries and regions. It serves as background information for the 19th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in New York, 2-13 May 2011.
China Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EFV) Annual Research Report 2010 (May 2011 / Clean Transportation Program)
This report is based on the Environmentally Friendly Vehicle methodology jointly developed by iCET and the Vehicle Emission Control Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2006-2007 for evaluating the impact of individual models of vehicles on the environment based on openly available data. Taking a lifecycle perspective, the methodology looks at the production and use of vehicles, taking exhaust emission standards, fuel type, fuel economy and curb weight as basic parameters for evaluation. iCET database now contains more than 5400 models of vehicles made under 80 brands in the Chinese market. A Green Rating is available for all vehicles, and the report has also generated top-ten rankings in each of the categories of micro cars, small cars, compact cars, midsize, medium and large cars, luxury cars, SUVs, MPVs, sports cars and New Energy Vehicles.
China Passenger Vehicle Corporate Average Fuel Consumption (CAFC) Trend Report (2006-2010) (May 2011 / Clean Transportation Program)
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), along with major auto manufacturers have issued a draft of Passenger Vehicle Fuel Consumption Evaluation Method and Requirements, which for the first time will require the calculation of Corporate Average Fuel Consumption, and is planned to come into force in 2012. This report utilizes a CAFC methodology and data from authoritative sources such as the MIIT and China Association of Auto Manufacturers to analyze the 2006-2010 CAFC trends of 11 major automotive groups, 32 major auto companies and major independent brands and joint venture brands.
Electric Vehicles in the Context of Sustainable Development in China (for UNCSD) (March 2011 / Clean Transportation Program)
This report provides a comprehensive and systematic analytical overview of China’s automotive electric-drive technology development and electric mobility promotion policies and programes, and recent trends and projections in technology development and electricity use in private and public motor vehicles are analysed. This paper serves as background information for the 19th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in New York, 2-13 May 2011.
National Standard (Draft):The Principles and Requirements of Greenhouse Gas Emission Assessment for Transportation Fuel Life Cycle Before Usage Stage (Submitted for approval from the Standardization Administration of China) (December 2010 / Clean Transportation Program)
This is the first recommended standard in the “Low Carbon Fuel Standards Series” promoted by iCET, which standardizes the evaluation of GHG emission from each stage of a fuel's lifecycle before it is used. The standard is to be used by feedstock producers, fuel conversion enterprises, fuel marketers and other stakeholders, and covers biomass-based fuels, coal-based fuels, petroleum-based fuels, etc. The standard is to be used by feedstock producers, fuel conversion enterprises, fuel marketers and other stakeholders, and covers biomass-based fuels, coal-based fuels, petroleum-based fuels, etc. This standard was jointly drafted by iCET and a National Environmental Standardization Technical Committee made up of experts from the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS), Tsinghua University, the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the China Academy of Sciences, the Safety and Environment Technology Research Center of the China National Petroleum Company, the China Coal Science Research Institute, and COFCO Co. Ltd., and is now in the national standards approval process at the Standardization Administration of China.