Real driving emissions test approved after political struggle

The refined fuel sector and its automotive industry customers have dodged having to sharply reduce pollution emissions after the European Parliament accepted new real driving emissions (RDE) tests, reports Keith Nuthall. These will allow auto-manufacturers to sell cars that temporarily breach European Union (EU) exhaust limits, giving the fuel and auto sectors time to make the necessary technical changes to ensure compliance.

MEPs backed allowing such tolerance for tests on nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions from diesel cars and vans, clearing the way for the European Commission to secure approval for two more sets of real driving emission tests. It follows threats from the Parliament that it would block the proposals, unless manufacturers were held to existing Euro VI standards when models were subjected to real driving emission tests.

The issue has become politically sensitive after the Volkswagen scandal exposed the vulnerabilities of laboratory-based emission tests (see Petroleum Review, November 2015). MEPs backed down after the EU Council of Ministers (representing member states), which also has a veto over the proposals, said it would not compromise, even if laboratory tests were only sanctioned for the time being.

It means auto manufacturers have to ensure RDE tested emissions exceed Euro VI standards by 110% for new models by September 2017 and new vehicles by September 2019; and by 50% for all new models by January 2020 and January 2021 for all new cars.

The Parliament did, however, extract a concession from the Commission for regular reviews of these limits to take account of technical progress.

Its stance was also softened by an earlier Commission proposal to reform EU type approval laws governing technical vehicle standards granting it power to fine manufacturers up to €30,000/vehicle if they evade emissions or other technical tests. European Parliament Environment Committee Chair Giovanni La Via said: ‘We now have clear commitments from the European Commission for a review clause… to bring down the maximum emission values.’