Fuel consumption rates of passenger cars in China: Labels versus real-world

Recently, China has implemented many policy measures to control the oil demand of on-road vehicles. In 2010, China started to report the fuel consumption rates of light-duty vehicles tested in laboratory and to require new vehicles to show the rates on window labels. In this study, we examined the differences between the test and real-world fuel consumption of Chinese passenger cars by using the data reported by real-world drivers on the internet voluntarily. The sales-weighted average fuel consumption of new cars in China in 2009 was 7.80 L/100 km in laboratory and 9.02 L/100 km in real-world, representing a difference of 15.5%. For the 153 individual car models examined, the real-world fuel consumption rates were −8 to 60% different from the test values. The simulation results of the International Vehicle Emission model show that the real-world driving cycles in 22 selected Chinese cities could result in −8 to 34% of changes in fuel consumption compared to the laboratory driving cycle. Further government effort on fuel consumption estimates adjustment, local driving cycle development, and real-world data accumulation through communication with the public is needed to improve the accuracy of the labeling policy.

Research highlights
► China requires new cars sold to show the test fuel use levels on window labels.
► Real-world fuel consumption rates of cars are 15.5% higher than the label values.
► Discrepancy between the test cycle and real conditions is a major cause for the gap.
► China should adjust the estimates, collect fuel use data, and develop driving cycles.
► More official and academic efforts are needed to improve the labeling policy.