LowCVP launches industry guide to the new WLTP Fuel Economy & Emission Test

The introduction of the new ‘WLTP Fuel Economy and Emission Test’ is an opportunity for the automotive industry to engage with drivers by providing more realistic, comparable figures that they can rely on – but comes with a number of questions and communication challenges. To help overcome these, the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership has published the first in a series of ‘WLTP Automotive Industry Guides’.

 

This free guide has been produced by the LowCVP to answer some of the industry’s questions about the move from NEDC to the new WLTP fuel economy and emission figures; advise how this new information should be presented to the consumer during the transition period, and to provide clarity on the key advertising and taxation ‘switchover dates’. It has been developed in conjunction with the Department for Transport and SMMT.

 

LowCVP’s Managing Director, Andy Eastlake said: “The introduction of the new WLTP figures gives manufacturers the chance to really help consumers choose the most suitable car for them, by providing drivers with reliable fuel economy, emissions and EV range figures that they can trust and may be able to achieve themselves. This is enormously important in encouraging the move to lower emission cars and reducing overall running costs.”

 

You can download a free copy of the ‘WLTP Automotive Industry Guide’ from here.

 

What is WLTP?

WLTP (or the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure) is the new official global test for measuring a car’s fuel consumption, emissions and (for EVs / PHEVs) electric range, using an improved variety of more accurate testing procedures and conditions. These give much more realistic results that better reflect both the real-world driving conditions and manufacturer options fitted to the car. It replaces the outdated NEDC test that has been used for over 15 years.

 

Why is it important?

Because it provides drivers with fuel economy and emissions figures they can trust, giving a much better indication of what they might be able to achieve themselves in the real world – if they drive efficiently. It enables drivers to reliably compare how different cars perform in a variety of situations, so that they can choose the one that’s most suitable for them. 

 

What new data will we have?

Drivers will benefit from more realistic fuel economy and emission figures, covering four different journey types, plus a combined (or average) journey figure. This will also include specific results for the latest electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

 

What are the challenges?

Having both the existing NEDC and new more reliable WLTP test figures available for many cars is likely to confuse consumers – as these two sets of results will be different for the same car and should not be compared. It is therefore vital that the new WLTP information is always presented very clearly and separately from any existing NEDC figures.

 

WLTP Transition Timetable

• Now: WLTP testing is mandatory for all new car models being introduced.

• From September 2018: almost every new car on sale in the UK must be WLTP tested.

• From January 2019: all consumer official fuel economy and EV range information will switch from NEDC to WLTP. However, NEDC CO2 figures will still be used for CO2 taxation purposes only.

• April 2020: WLTP CO2 figures will be used for taxation, such as VED and Company Car Tax. 

 

Download a free copy of the ‘WLTP Automotive Industry Guide’.