What is China's Vehicle Emission Standard?
3 Answers
Currently, China implements the sixth-stage motor vehicle pollutant emission standard. Additional information is as follows: 1. Introduction: 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," prevent and control pollution, protect and improve the ecological environment, and safeguard human health, the "Limits and Measurement Methods for Emissions from Light-Duty Vehicles (China VI)" has been approved as the national pollutant emission standard and jointly issued by our department and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. 2. Content Interpretation: To further strengthen motor vehicle pollution prevention and control, reduce emissions from the source, and implement the requirements of the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" regarding the "implementation of China VI emission standards and corresponding fuel standards," the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine have issued the China VI standard for light-duty vehicles.
Having driven for over a decade, I've personally witnessed the progress in emission standards. China's emission standards have progressively tightened restrictions on vehicle exhaust, evolving from the initial China I to the current China VI. The China VI standard, being the strictest phase, is implemented in two stages (a and b), with stage b starting in 2020 imposing even stricter controls on nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide emissions. In my city, Beijing, where smog was once severe, strengthened standards now require new vehicles to be equipped with particulate filters to reduce pollution, leading to noticeably improved air quality with more blue skies. While purchasing a China VI-compliant vehicle may cost more upfront, the long-term savings on healthcare expenses and the protection of children's health make it worthwhile. These standards also accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, as gasoline-powered cars need to be cleaner. Compared to the EU's Euro standards, China has caught up quickly, with China VI being equivalent to Euro 6 but implemented three years earlier. Overall, these policies contribute to a more secure urban life, easier breathing, less pollution, and reduced diseases.
As a car enthusiast, I'm particularly passionate about this topic. China's emission standards are regulatory limits that progressively tighten from National I to National VI, with National VI being the strictest. It sets limits like carbon monoxide emissions as low as 500mg/km, driving technological upgrades such as three-way catalytic converters with over 90% efficiency and SCR systems to handle nitrogen oxides. When choosing a car, I always check the emission level. Although National VI cars are more expensive, they emit less and are more environmentally friendly, potentially saving fuel costs after purchase. In heavily polluted areas like Hebei, after half a year of implementing the new standards, smog has visibly halved. These standards also incentivize fuel purification and competition with electric vehicles, offering significant environmental benefits. They drive industry innovation, reduce harmful gases, and protect public health. The future National VII is under discussion and will be even stricter, but the technical challenges are also greater. I believe this is a crucial step forward in making driving greener.
