What are the contents of China's National VI vehicle emission standards?
3 Answers
The contents of China's National VI vehicle emission standards are: a 50% reduction in carbon monoxide emissions for gasoline vehicles, a 50% decrease in the emission limits for total hydrocarbons and non-methane hydrocarbons, and a 42% stricter limit on nitrogen oxide emissions. The National VI emission standards specify the requirements for the sixth-stage type approval of light-duty vehicle pollutant emissions, as well as the methods for checking and determining production conformity and in-use compliance. The National VI standards are established to implement the Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China and the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China, aiming to prevent and control pollution from the exhaust of compression-ignition and gas-fueled spark-ignition engine vehicles, protect the ecological environment, and safeguard human health.
I remember the full name of China 6 emission standard is 'Limits and Measurement Methods for Emissions from Light-Duty Vehicles'. It's significantly stricter than the previous China 5 standard. The core requirement is to drastically reduce the permitted levels of harmful substances in exhaust gases, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. For example, China 6b cuts nitrogen oxide limits by half compared to China 5. A notable addition is the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test to monitor actual road emissions and prevent automakers from cheating in laboratory tests. Another key point is the limit on particulate matter (PN limit) from gasoline vehicles, requiring no more than 6×10^11 particles per kilometer. These changes force automakers to adopt more advanced catalytic converters and particulate filters. From the timeline perspective, China 6a was a transitional phase, while the truly stringent China 6b was fully implemented in 2023. When buying new cars, choosing models meeting this standard is the right thing to do for environmental protection.
As an environmental protection enthusiast, I understand that the key to China VI standards lies in phased implementation and full-chain control. In 2020, China VIa targeted new vehicles, and after the full implementation of China VIb in 2023, all fuel vehicles on sale must meet stricter emission indicators. It reduces the carbon monoxide limit to 0.5g/km, limits the total of hydrocarbons + nitrogen oxides to 0.17g/km, and for the first time introduces an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) system for real-time emission monitoring. The most stringent requirement is the addition of a 200,000-kilometer durability test, ensuring that vehicles still meet emission standards after aging. This comprehensive approach forces automakers to improve engine combustion efficiency. Now, mainstream vehicles are equipped with Gasoline Particulate Filters (GPF), and even fuel nozzles come with vapor recovery devices.
