From February 1, 2008, China began enforcing the "Limits for Fuel Consumption of Light Commercial Vehicles" (GB 20997-2007), a mandatory national standard approved by the National Standardization Management Committee on July 19, 2007. This regulation is a key part of China’s efforts to align with its Energy Conservation Law and plays a vital role in promoting energy efficiency and reducing emissions in the automotive sector. The standard introduces two stages of fuel consumption limits, aiming to significantly improve the energy performance of light commercial vehicles across the country.
Under this standard, new models certified from February 1, 2008, must meet the second-stage requirements. By January 1, 2009, vehicles produced and certified before that date were required to comply with the first stage. Finally, all applicable vehicles had to meet the second-phase limit by January 1, 2011. Once fully implemented, the average fuel consumption of China's light commercial vehicles was expected to decrease by 10% to 15%, reflecting a major step forward in energy conservation.
Developing this standard required careful consideration of how to evaluate and set fuel consumption limits. Before the official release of the standard, the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, which oversees the National Automobile Standardization Technical Committee, conducted extensive research on the evaluation system. Unlike the U.S., which allows a wide range of fuel consumption levels but controls overall totals, or Japan, which pressures manufacturers to reduce consumption based on vehicle quality, China needed an innovative approach tailored to its unique market conditions.
The standard team analyzed data from 544 light commercial vehicles across 14 manufacturers and found that factors like total mass and engine displacement were more closely related to fuel consumption than curb weight. They concluded that combining maximum design mass and engine displacement provided a more accurate basis for setting limits. This led to the creation of a system where fuel consumption limits are determined by these two parameters, ensuring fairness and practicality for both manufacturers and consumers.
Additionally, the standard accounts for differences in vehicle types, such as gasoline and diesel trucks, as well as passenger vehicles. It sets 33 different limit values for the first stage and 66 for the second, reflecting the diverse characteristics of China’s light commercial vehicle market. The drafting team also studied global fuel consumption trends, comparing Chinese vehicles to those in other countries. They found that China’s current fuel consumption levels, especially for smaller engines, still lag behind international standards, highlighting significant potential for improvement.
Despite this gap, the first-stage limits were set relatively loosely, allowing most existing models to meet them. The second stage, however, is about 5% to 10% stricter, pushing manufacturers toward greater efficiency. While large-displacement vehicles in China may not be far behind global leaders, smaller models still have room to grow.
The implementation timeline was carefully planned. New models had to meet the second-stage limit immediately upon certification in 2008, while older models were given one year to adjust. By 2012, all variants had to comply with the stricter second-stage rules. This phased approach allowed for a smooth transition and gave manufacturers time to adapt their production processes.
In terms of specific limits, the standard provides detailed fuel consumption thresholds based on vehicle type, maximum design mass, and engine displacement. For example, for N1 gasoline vehicles, a model with a maximum mass over 3,000 kg and engine displacement over 3 liters has a 100 km fuel limit of 14 liters—up 1.5 liters from the first stage. Similarly, M2 vehicles with a mass under 3,000 kg and engine displacement between 2 and 2.5 liters see an increase from 11 liters to 12.2 liters.
Overall, the GB 20997-2007 standard marks a significant milestone in China’s push for sustainable transportation. It not only sets clear goals for fuel efficiency but also encourages innovation and long-term improvements in the automotive industry.
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