EU agrees on tougher car emissions test

EU Member States have agreed on implementing measures to introduce real driving emissions (RDE) tests for air pollutants. The RDE tests, which will determine whether a new diesel car model is […]

EU Member States have agreed on implementing measures to introduce real driving emissions (RDE) tests for air pollutants.

The RDE tests, which will determine whether a new diesel car model is allowed to be put on the market, will run from September 2017.

It follows the Volkswagen scandal last month when the car manufacturer admitted it used a software that deceived emissions testing for certain air pollutants.

Almost 1.2 million cars are affected in the UK.

The RDE procedure will complement the laboratory process to check the emission levels of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), which will be measured by portable emission measuring systems (PEMS) that will be attached to the car.

It will give more clarity as laboratory tests do not accurately reflect the amount of air pollution emitted during real driving conditions, the European Commission stated.

According to its data, ‘Euro 6’ diesel cars exceed the NOx limit 4-5 times (400%) on average in real driving conditions compared to laboratory testing.

Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, responsible for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs said: “The EU is the first and only region in the world to mandate these robust testing methods. And this is not the end of the story. We will complement this important step with a revision of the framework regulation on type-approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles.”

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