What is the difference between China 5 and China 6?
2 Answers
The difference between China 5 and China 6 lies in their emission standards: China 5 allows a total hydrocarbon emission of 100mg per kilometer, non-methane hydrocarbon emission of 68mg per kilometer, and nitrogen oxide emission of 60mg per kilometer; whereas China 6 reduces these to 50mg, 35mg, and 30mg per kilometer respectively. After the official implementation of the China 6 standard, the main impact will be on the production, import, sales, and registration of new vehicles. New vehicles meeting China 5 standards will no longer be allowed to be registered or licensed. However, existing China 5 vehicles that have already been registered and licensed can continue to be used without affecting their normal annual inspections and can also be traded as used cars.
To be honest, I only understood the difference between these two emission standards when I recently changed my car. China 5 was implemented nationwide in 2017, while China 6 was rolled out in two phases: China 6a in 2019 and China 6b fully implemented by 2023. The most fundamental change is the drastically tightened emission limits. China 6 requires a 30% reduction in carbon monoxide compared to China 5, and particulate matter emissions are literally halved! The entire engine and exhaust treatment systems have been upgraded - for example, China 6 vehicles must be equipped with real-time diagnostic systems that trigger dashboard warnings at the slightest exhaust anomaly. The testing methodology also shifted from laboratory conditions to real-world driving, making cheating much harder. If you're in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Shenzhen, China 5 vehicles might be banned from urban areas, and their resale values have dropped significantly. Long-term, China 6 cars hold their value better, but issues like check engine lights from poor-quality fuel are quite common.
