China’s Stage 4 fuel consumption standard for heavy-duty commercial vehicles

China’s new fuel consumption standard for heavy-duty commercial vehicles (HDVs), Stage 4, limits vehicles’ per-vehicle fuel consumption (in L/100 km). For new type-approvals, it will take effect on July 1, 2025, and for new sales in China, it will take effect on July 1, 2027. In this paper, the authors detail the key provisions.

Among the highlights of Stage 4 are that it:

• tightens fuel consumption limits by 12%–16%, depending on vehicle type
• transitions to the China Heavy-duty Commercial Vehicle Test Cycle (CHTC), which better represents the real-world driving of HDVs in the country
• expands the scope to cover hybrid electric vehicles and concrete mixers

China’s new standard comes as other major vehicle markets, including the European Union, the United States, and Japan, have also set stricter fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas regulations for HDVs.

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