What are the differences between China 6 and China 5?

[KaydenFitz]

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 driving 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 stage of national motor vehicle emission standards. China 6 was implemented on July 1, 2019. Different principles: During the China 5 stage, diesel and gasoline vehicles had different emission standards, but China 6 adopts a fuel-neutral principle, meaning that regardless of the fuel type, the emission limits are the same. Different issuing departments: The China 5 standard was issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, while 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 the letter 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 energy storage systems, thermal management systems, brake regeneration, drive motors, generators, and other regulatory aspects. The China 5 standard limits are as follows: Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 1,000 mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 68 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 60 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 4.5 mg of PM (particulate matter) per kilometer driven. 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. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 68 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 60 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 4.5 mg of PM (particulate matter) per kilometer driven. China 6b standard limits: Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 500 mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 35 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 35 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 3 mg of PM (particulate matter) per kilometer driven. Affected by the China 6 emission policy, although China 5 vehicles are not currently restricted in normal use (no driving bans or license plate restrictions), their resale value will be significantly impacted. For truck owners, if they purchase a truck on loan for cargo transport, the depreciation of the vehicle after paying off the loan is equivalent to the net profit earned during that period. A higher residual value means more profit for the owner. Therefore, from this perspective, China 6 vehicles, which have a longer service life and more road rights, offer greater advantages.

[DeReagan]

The China 6 standard is much stricter than China 5! I've studied the data before – China 6 vehicles have their CO emissions slashed by half, and even diesel particulate matter is tightly controlled. The toughest part is the addition of real-world driving tests, where inspectors follow vehicles with monitoring equipment, making emission cheating impossible. It also mandates OBD monitoring systems – the dashboard will alert immediately if emissions exceed limits, forcing manufacturers to use better catalytic converters. During the transition from China 5 to China 6, gas stations nationwide switched to new fuel with sulfur content reduced to one-tenth of previous levels. Some older China 5 vehicles can't enter major cities now, but China 6 vehicles can run nationwide even under the strictest Phase B requirements. Long-term, this significantly improves air quality – Beijing's smog days last year were far fewer than five years ago.