GB21378-2015
Low-speed goods vehicle—Limits and measurement methods for fuel consumption
低速货车 燃料消耗量限值及测量方法
GB 21378-2015 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Low-speed goods vehicle—Limits and measurement methods for fuel consumption. It appears in the Electronics compliance cluster with a testing methods focus and has an implementation date of Oct 1, 2015.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard applies to low-speed goods vehicles (低速货车) manufactured, sold, or type-approved in China. It covers vehicles equipped with either single-cylinder diesel engines or multi-cylinder diesel engines, with maximum design total masses ranging up to 4,500 kg. All technical content in this standard is mandatory for manufacturers seeking type approval and production consistency certification. The standard does not apply to conventional passenger cars, heavy-duty trucks, or other vehicle categories outside the low-speed goods vehicle classification defined in GB/T 24948.
Technical requirements
The standard establishes fuel consumption limits categorized by the vehicle's maximum design total mass and engine type (single-cylinder vs. multi-cylinder diesel). Limits are specified separately for type approval and production conformity inspection, with production conformity limits being slightly more lenient. Vehicles must not exceed the prescribed L/100km thresholds at various mass breakpoints. Key updates from the previous GB 21378-2008 include revised terminology, a shift to chassis dynamometer-based measurement methods, the addition of fuel consumption calculation procedures (including both carbon balance method and flow measurement method), and new requirements for production consistency checks using statistical sampling. The standard also defines specific test conditions including vehicle preparation (break-in, engine adjustment, pre-heating to 20–30°C), instrument precision requirements (fuel consumption ±0.5%, speed ±0.5%, time ±0.1s), tire pressure tolerances (±10 kPa), and the use of reference fuel conforming to Appendix C specifications. Manufacturers must ensure that all produced vehicles meet the production conformity limits within one year of the standard's implementation date.
Testing methods
Fuel consumption is measured using a chassis dynamometer following defined driving cycles specified in Appendix B. The test consists of 4 low-speed segment cycles and 1 high-speed segment cycle, with separate cycle definitions for single-cylinder and multi-cylinder vehicles. Two measurement approaches are permitted: the flow measurement method (direct fuel flow measurement) and the carbon balance method (calculating fuel consumption from CO, HC, and CO₂ emissions using CVS sampling). Results are determined as the arithmetic mean of at least 3 consecutive measurements, with a maximum allowable deviation of 5% between values. Exhaust pollutant analysis utilizes NDIR analyzers for CO and CO₂, and HFID analyzers for HC, with all equipment requiring regular calibration.
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 21378-2015?
GB 21378-2015 regulates low-speed goods vehicles (低速货车) equipped with diesel engines, including both single-cylinder and multi-cylinder configurations. These vehicles are defined per GB/T 24948 and must comply with the general technical conditions specified in GB/T 24944.
What are the key changes from GB 21378-2008 to GB 21378-2015?
The 2015 revision shifted the measurement method to chassis dynamometer testing, adjusted the corresponding fuel consumption limits, added fuel consumption calculation procedures, introduced production consistency requirements with statistical sampling, and updated the normative references and terminology.
When must manufacturers comply with GB 21378-2015?
Type approval applications must comply from the standard's implementation date of October 1, 2015. All manufactured and sold low-speed goods vehicles must meet the production conformity limits within one year of implementation, meaning full compliance was required by October 2016.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 21378-2015. To ensure complete compliance for your low-speed goods vehicles entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications—including all limit value tables, driving cycle diagrams, calculation formulas, and reference fuel specifications—is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 21378-2015 today to access all detailed parameters, tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Product
- CCS
- T54
- ICS
- 65.060
- Competent department
- Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
- Technical committee
- Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
Relationships
Replaces:GB 21378-2008