DOE, Petron team up for 1st Euro 4 run

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with Petron Corp. for the conduct of the country’s first Euro 4 fuel economy run, which will be the basis for an expanded energy efficiency standards for motor vehicles.

The DOE signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Petron for the economy run necessary for drafting efficiency standards for motor vehicles.

DOE Secretary Zenaida Monsada said the agency is coming out with a fuel efficiency labeling as part of Philippine Energy Standards and Labeling Program (PESLP).

“Even petroleum fuels can be cleaner... This is part of thrust under the Clean Air Act and of our COP 21 commitment,” she said.

The results of the economy run will be used by the DOE as a benchmark for fuel efficiency labeling which will soon be required in all car manufacturers and importers.

Petron general manager Lubin Nepomuceno said in the same event the economy run will show how efficient fuel is and establish the fuel economy efficiency of the vehicles that are going to participate.

“This benefits the public and motorists. Car manufacturers and car models will have an accredited fuel efficiency rating telling the public, buyers...what the fuel consumption is going to be,” he said.

Nearly 80 vehicles nominated by 20 car manufacturers and importers will participate in the event which will begin at 12:01 a.m. on May 27 at the Petron Clark Station in Angeles City, Pampanga to Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX) via Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and then back to TPLEX northbound and to Petron Clark station as the final destination.

Participating car companies include Pilipinas Taj Autogroup Inc. (Tata Motors), Isuzu Philippines Corp., Nissan Philippines Inc., Volvo Philippines, Toyota Motors Philippines Corp., Suzuki Philippines Inc., Ford Group Philippines, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., Honda Philippines Inc., Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. and British United Automobiles Inc. (Mini).

Car distributors such as Eurobrands (Peugeot), Automobile Central Enterprise (Volkswagen), PGA Cars (Audi, Porsche), Motor Image Philippines (Subaru) and Columbian Autocar Corp. (KIA) will also participate in the country’s first Euro 4 economy run.

Last March, the DOE said it is expanding the PESLP to include more appliances, lighting systems, and light duty motor vehicles to strengthen the country’s energy efficiency and conservation efforts.

To date, only air-conditioners, split-type air conditioning systems, refrigerators with five to eight cubic feet storage capacity, three types of fluorescent lamp, and electrical ballasts are required to have an energy efficiency rating.