China to enforce world’s first mandatory EV energy standard in 2026, capping two-tonne models at 15.1 kWh per 100 km
> Authorities stated that, following technical upgrades, vehicles with the same battery capacity are expected to see an average increase of about 7 percent in driving range due to reduced energy consumption.
Once the standard takes effect, manufacturers will be required to carry out technical upgrades on newly produced vehicles to ensure compliance. For pure electric passenger cars with a curb weight of around two tonnes, the new requirement sets a maximum electricity consumption of 15.1 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers.
Additional policy measures will link the new energy consumption standard directly to financial incentives. Chinese authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Taxation Administration, have issued updated technical requirements for new energy vehicles to qualify for purchase tax exemptions in 2026 and 2027. Under these rules, pure electric passenger cars must meet the new mandatory energy consumption limits to remain eligible for tax exemptions, aligning fiscal policy with regulatory efficiency targets.
Your assumption was the same as mine… they have to reach this efficiency to be sold… or possibly get a penalty if they don’t hit the target. But there was not that much detail in the article
It’s not difficult to hit that target, so I don’t think it will be a problem, but it may encourage some budget manufacturers to be a bit more careful with aero and weight decisions.
schizoidman