What is the Chinese equivalent of Euro III emission standards?
3 Answers
Euro III emission standards are equivalent to China's National III emission standards. Generally, most new private cars produced between 2005 and 2010 were set to meet either Euro III or National III emission standards for tailpipe emissions. The National III standard mainly applies to light-duty gasoline and diesel vehicles under 3.5 tons, equivalent to the Euro III standard. The nationwide implementation date in China was July 1, 2007. Here is relevant information about the National III standard: 1. According to Announcement No. 5 of 2006 by the National Environmental Protection Agency, titled 'Announcement on the Release of New Motor Vehicle Models and Engine Types Meeting the Second and Third Stages of National Motor Vehicle Emission Standards,' the National III standard primarily applies to light-duty gasoline and diesel vehicles under 3.5 tons, equivalent to the Euro III standard. The nationwide implementation date in China was July 1, 2007. 2. The National III standard represents a significant improvement, particularly in emphasizing emission standards for vehicles at -7 degrees Celsius, which is unique and not found in foreign standards. Another key feature is the zero-start standard for vehicles, incorporating OBD (On-Board Diagnostics). Throughout the vehicle's usage, if any emission-related issues arise, the vehicle will automatically alert the owner, who should then take it to a service station for repair to resolve the issue.
As a seasoned driver, I've witnessed the transition from Euro III to China VI emission standards. The Euro III standard is equivalent to our China III, both being standards introduced in the 2000s. I remember around 2007 when China III vehicles suddenly became prevalent in the market, synchronized with Europe's generational update. Although the naming differs, the emission limits are basically aligned, with nitrogen oxides capped at around 0.5g/kWh. However, there are three practical points to note: first, particulate emissions from domestic diesel vehicles might be slightly higher; second, when dealing with older vehicles in restricted zones, don't be fooled—Euro III vehicles should be treated directly as China III; third, inspection stations often default to testing imported Euro III vehicles as China III standards, so remember to check the specific grade on the environmental green label when buying a used car.
I've studied the evolution of emission standards over 20 years, and Euro III basically corresponds to China III. Europe implemented Euro III in 2000, while we adopted China III in 2007. The core indicators for both were controlling hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. However, there are temperature differences in the details: European tests were conducted at -7°C, while our regulations specified testing at +25°C. The actual difference doesn't exceed 10%, so during vehicle inspections they're directly treated as equivalent standards. Currently, Euro III imported vehicles on the road are classified as China III models during annual inspections. An interesting fact: some regions relax particulate matter standards for older Euro III vehicles during inspections, but overall they're still considered China III grade.
