The China 6 vehicular emissions standard – the strictest in the world, according to the countrys central government – gets an 18-month head start next month in several of the nations most populous jurisdictions.
The standard – which sets limits for several types of emissions from both light- and heavy-duty vehicles – takes effect in January in the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Chengdu and in Hebei, Henan and Shandong provinces. The standard has already taken effect in the city of Shenzhen and on the island province of Hainan and is scheduled to be implemented on July 1, 2019, in a number of cities in Shanxi and Hangzhou provinces.
For the rest of the country the government has divided the standard into two phases, China 6A and China 6B, which are scheduled to take effect in July 2020 and 2023, respectively. Combining features from regulations in the United States and Europe, China 6B sets limits that are 50 percent tougher than the European Unions Euro 6 standard for hydrocarbons, 40 percent tougher for nitrous oxides and 33 percent tougher for particulate matter. China 6A is intended to be a bridge between 6B and the current standard, China 5, which took effect nationwide for all vehicles in January of this year.
China 6 sets the same limits for vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel.
Analysts say the new standard will require emissions control technologies that will exert new requirements on automotive engine oils. They are also expected to increase vehicle prices.