What are the differences between China 5 and China 6 standards?
2 Answers
The main difference between China 5 and China 6 standards lies in their emission requirements, with China 6 being significantly stricter. The specific differences are as follows: 1. Different emission limits: The China 6 standard imposes 40% to 50% stricter limits compared to China 5. 2. Different decommissioning timelines: For example, while both China 5 and China 6 vehicles purchased in January 2019 may have a 15-year registration period, their actual usage lifespans will differ. 3. Price difference: China 6 vehicles incorporate additional components compared to China 5 models, plus automakers face extra costs from compliance testing, certification, and production changes - making China 6 vehicles substantially more expensive. 4. Different sulfur content requirements: China 5 allows up to 10mg per kilogram, while China 6 permits up to 50mg per kilogram.
As a regular car owner who drives frequently, I've noticed that the main differences between China 5 and China 6 emission standards lie in the emission limits and testing methods. China 6 is significantly stricter than China 5, with lower pollutant limits – for example, nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by nearly half, which is great for air quality. Additionally, the testing method has been switched to the globally unified WLTC cycle, which better simulates real-world driving conditions but makes retrofitting older vehicle models slightly more challenging. In terms of implementation timeline, China 5 started in 2017, while China 6a was introduced in 2019 and 6b was gradually rolled out in 2020. Nowadays, most new vehicles already comply with China 6 standards. Personally, I find China 6-compliant cars slightly more fuel-efficient, though they cost about 500 to 1000 yuan more when purchasing due to added components like particulate filters. Overall, this upgrade is beneficial as it makes our roads cleaner with less exhaust odor, though it does come with higher vehicle replacement costs.
