November 15, 2006
Publication of the 4th Edition of the Worldwide Fuel Charter
by the world’s leading automobile and engine manufacturers’ associations
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) has worked with the United States’ Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and the U.S.’ Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) in producing the fourth edition of the Worldwide Fuel Charter (WWFC), released in September this year.
Faced with increasingly stringent automotive emissions regulations, the motor industry works continuously to develop the technologies required for compliance. The fact is, however, that the application of those advanced technologies requires improvements in the quality of fuels supplied to the global market. Accordingly, the aforementioned automobile and engine manufacturers’ associations have sought, over the past decade, to promote greater understanding of the need for better and harmonized fuel quality and have published the results of their work on this issue in the WWFC. First created in 1998, the Charter has been updated in three subsequent versions, in 2000, 2002, and this year, which marks the release of its fourth edition.
The WWFC establishes four categories of fuel specifications for gasoline and diesel fuel, respectively, in response to the different regulatory levels for vehicle emissions in force worldwide and taking into account the emission control technologies required for compliance. In this fourth edition of the WWFC, the fuel specification categories have been revised to more accurately reflect market conditions and engine and vehicle requirements, and the test methods it lists have been updated and expanded. In addition, the new WWFC features supplementary technical information - for example, on the impact of fuel quality on engines and emission control systems.
JAMA, the AAM, ACEA, EMA and all the individuals involved in the production of the latest edition of the WWFC hope that the harmonized fuel specifications it contains will gain support and serve to benefit the public worldwide and the global environment.
The fourth edition of the Worldwide Fuel Charter is posted on JAMA’s Web site at http://www.jama.or.jp/eco/wwfc/pdf/WWFC_Sep2006_Brochure.pdf.
Reference
Relationship Between Fuel Specification Categories and
Vehicle Emissions Regulatory Levels in the WWFC (4th Edition)
| Category | Emissions Regulatory Levels |
| 1 | Countries / markets with no or only introductory-level emission controls. Examples: US Tier 0 or EURO1 regulations |
| 2 | Countries / markets with more demanding emission controls. Examples: US Tier 1 or EURO2/EURO3 regulations |
| 3 | Countries / markets with advanced emissions regulations. Examples: US/California LEV or ULEV, EURO3, Japan’s 2005 regulations or equivalent-level emissions gas regulations |
| 4 | Countries / markets with further advanced emission controls. Examples: US EPA Tier 2 or 2007/2010 on-road full-size vehicle emissions regulations, US off-road Tier 4, US/California LEV-II, EURO4/EURO5 full-size vehicle or equivalent regulations |
