What are the differences between China 6 and China 5 vehicles?
4 Answers
The differences between China 5 and China 6 emission standards are as follows: Different emission standards: The China 6 emission standard is more than 30% stricter than China 5. Excluding the influence of working conditions and testing, gasoline vehicles' carbon monoxide emissions are reduced by 50%, total hydrocarbons and non-methane hydrocarbons emissions are reduced by 50%, and nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by 42%. Different implementation times: The China 5 standard was implemented nationwide on January 1, 2017, as the fifth phase of national motor vehicle emission standards. China 6 was implemented on July 1, 2019. Different principles: During the China 5 phase, diesel and gasoline vehicles had different emission standards. However, China 6 adopts a fuel-neutral principle, meaning the emission limits are the same regardless of the fuel type. Different issuing departments: The China 5 standard was issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The China 6 standard was issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine. Different letter representations: China 5 is represented by 'V,' while China 6 is represented by 'VI.' Different monitoring requirements for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Compared to China 5, China 6 has improved monitoring requirements for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, including regulations on energy storage systems, thermal management systems, brake regeneration, drive motors, generators, etc. Different prices: China 6 vehicles are equipped with additional components compared to China 5. Moreover, automobile manufacturers incur extra costs from vehicle declaration, testing, and production, leading to significantly higher prices for China 6 vehicles than China 5 vehicles. Different scrapping timelines: Although the state has abolished the scrapping age limit, older vehicles may be banned from roads, effectively rendering them scrapped. For example, a China 5 vehicle purchased in January 2019 and a China 6 vehicle purchased at the same time may both have a 15-year registration period, but their actual usage will differ. For instance, China 3 vehicles from 2010 and China 4 vehicles from 2010 can still operate in Beijing, but as more cities impose restrictions, many older vehicles become practically scrapped. Thus, even for vehicles of the same year, the timeline differs. China 5 standard limits are as follows: Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 1,000 mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven. They must not emit more than 68 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer. They must not emit more than 60 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer. They must not emit more than 4.5 mg of PM (particulate matter) per kilometer. China 6 has two standards: China 6a and China 6b, as follows: China 6a standard limits: Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 700 mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven. They must not emit more than 68 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer. They must not emit more than 60 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer. They must not emit more than 4.5 mg of PM per kilometer. China 6b standard limits: Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 500 mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven. They must not emit more than 35 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer. They must not emit more than 35 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer. They must not emit more than 3 mg of PM per kilometer. Affected by the China 6 emission policy, although China 5 vehicles currently do not face usage restrictions or traffic bans, their resale value will be significantly impacted. For truck drivers, if they purchase a truck on loan for freight transport, the vehicle's depreciation after repaying the loan equates to their net profit during that period. A higher residual value means more profit for the driver. From this perspective, China 6 vehicles, with longer usability and greater road access, offer more advantages.
As an ordinary car owner, I've been researching the differences between China 6 and China 5 emission standards. Simply put, China 6 is the sixth-stage national emission standard, which is much stricter than China 5. When buying a car, China 6-compliant vehicles are easier to license in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, while China 5 vehicles may face traffic restrictions or be banned from new registrations, affecting daily commutes. Technologically, China 6 vehicles are equipped with advanced systems like GPF (Gasoline Particulate Filters) to treat exhaust, significantly reducing pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, though this may increase maintenance costs by a couple hundred yuan. In the long run, China 6 vehicles have better resale value and are more popular in the used car market, whereas China 5 vehicles tend to depreciate faster. Policies vary greatly between cities, so I recommend prioritizing China 6 models—they're both eco-friendly and hassle-free, helping you avoid the risk of obsolescence.
From an environmental perspective, I highly value the improvements in China 6 vehicles. Their emission standards are more advanced, with pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter nearly halved compared to China 5, significantly improving air quality. The national push for China 6 aims to reduce smog and protect public health, so choosing a China 6 car supports a greener future. In detail, China 6 testing methods simulate real driving conditions to ensure genuine effectiveness, whereas China 5 standards are more lenient. Long-term, China 6 encourages automakers to innovate and reduce environmental harm. I would recommend prioritizing China 6 vehicles as they represent social progress, allowing individuals to make a greater contribution without added complexity.
Technically speaking, China VI standards focus on stricter emission controls. They require vehicles to be equipped with GPF (Gasoline Particulate Filters) or optimized catalytic converters to plug loopholes, such as reducing pollutant leaks. Testing has also been upgraded, shifting from laboratory simulations under China V to real-world driving monitoring, ensuring reliability. The result is cleaner exhaust emissions. While not a major revolution, these detailed optimizations make China VI more practical.
