Archive
Jun 2016
European Union Proposal on Heavy Duty Vehicle CO2 Emissions Published
At a Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles (TCMV) meeting on 12th May 2016, the European Commission presented a first draft of an EU Implementing Regulation to introduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions requirements for heavy duty vehicles into EU legislation. The new requirements introduced in this draft Implementing Regulation relate to the use of the Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool (VECTO) to calculate the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of heavy duty vehicles based on input data measured from the components and systems that make up the completed vehicle.
May 2016
New European Union Requirements on Real Driving Emissions Published
The new EU requirements on real driving emissions (RDE), which introduce a new "on road" emissions test using a portable emissions measuring system (PEMS), have now been published. These new RDE requirements have been specifically developed to address the difference between the exhaust emissions measured in the test laboratory during type approval and the exhaust emissions generated in real driving conditions, especially the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from vehicles equipped with diesel engines.
Apr 2016
Proposal to Introduce the WLTP into the EU Emissions Requirements
To address concerns that the test procedure and drive cycle currently used for light duty vehicle emissions testing, known as the New European Drive Cycle or NEDC, does not reflect real world driving, the European Commission has recently published a draft new Implementing Regulation on light duty vehicle emissions to replace the NEDC with the worldwide harmonised light duty vehicle test procedure (WLTP). The WLTP has been specifically developed to represent real world driving conditions and to provide a more realistic measurement of the vehicle’s emissions and fuel consumption performance.
Mar 2016
European Commission Proposes New Regulation to Replace 2007/46/EC
On 27th January, 2016, the European Commission published a draft new EU Regulation on the type approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, which is intended to repeal and replace EC Directive 2007/46/EC (also known as the Framework Directive). Although this new Regulation does not introduce any significant changes to the technical requirements, it does introduce some major changes to the operation and application of the type approval system itself, with many of the changes aimed at addressing deficiencies in the current type approval system that were highlighted by the "VW emissions scandal".
Feb 2016
NHTSA Requests Comments on Proposals for Revising the New Car Assessment Program
The National Highway Transportation Association (NHTSA) considers the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) a success as indicated by the continued growth in consumer interest in NCAP safety ratings when purchasing vehicles, the improved NCAP test scores and the added vehicle safety features. NHTSA believes that it is time for an update to the NCAP procedures and rating system to keep abreast of new occupant protection systems and the advanced technology in accident avoidance features. NHTSA is seeking comments on their proposed actions.
Jan 2016
New ECE Regulation on Frontal Impact Adopted
At the 167th session of the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) in November 2015, a new UN ECE Regulation on frontal impact was adopted. This new Regulation, which has been allocated the number ECE 137, focuses on restraint system performance and requires M1 category vehicles to be subjected to a 50 km/h frontal impact into a full width rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy in the driver's seating position and a 5th percentile female Hybrid III dummy in the front outboard passenger seating position.
Dec 2015
ECE Regulation on Glazing Updated to Permit Plastic Windscreens
On 9th November, 2015, Supplement 4 to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation on glazing, ECE 43.01, was published. This Supplement introduces new requirements covering rigid plastic windscreens, laminated rigid plastic windscreens and other laminated rigid plastic panes, thereby allowing the type approval of plastic windscreens for the first time.
Nov 2015
Amendments to the EU General Safety Regulation Proposed to Update the List of UN ECE Regulations that Apply on a Compulsory Basis
At a Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles (TCMV) meeting held on 6th October, 2015, the European Commission submitted a proposal to amend the General Safety Regulation, (EC) No. 661/2009, to update the list of UN ECE Regulations that apply on a compulsory basis to include their latest published amendment levels and to update the list of type approvals to repealed EC Directives that remain valid for type approval purposes.
Oct 2015
Proposal to add Particulate Matter Measurement into the EU Heavy Duty In-Service Emissions Testing Requirements
At a Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles (TCMV) meeting held on 10th September, 2015, the European Commission submitted a proposal to amend the implementing Regulation on heavy duty emissions, (EU) No. 582/2011, to expand the requirements on portable emissions measuring systems (PEMS) testing. Currently, only gaseous emissions (i.e. carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx)) are measured during PEMS testing, but the European Commission are now proposing to also measure the mass of particulate matter (PM) emissions during PEMS testing.
Sep 2015
New ECE Regulation on Electric Vehicles of Category L Adopted
To compliment ECE 100.02, which covers safety requirements for vehicles of categories M and N equipped with an electric powertrain, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) have now developed an equivalent Regulation covering L category vehicles, i.e. motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles. This new Regulation, which has been allocated the number ECE 136, was formally adopted by the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) at their 166th session in June 2015.