TfL publishes report on In-service emissions performance of Euro-6/VI vehicles

Mon 14 September 2015 View all news

TfL has published a report on the performance of Euro-6/VI diesel car and goods vehicles emissions in 'real life' as part of its efforts to develop an Ultra Low Emission Zone in the city.

Testing was undertaken using a set of laboratory drive cycles that mimic the velocities and accelerations of vehicles in urban driving conditions.

It is widely recognised that the comparison of ‘real-life’ emissions test results with the Euro standard type approval limits is of limited value. Therefore, the purpose of this test programme was to assess variance between speed/emissions factors derived from the TfL testing and those incorporated by the European Environment Agency (COPERT 4). 

The key findings were:

  • Euro-6/VI diesel cars offer a substantial reduction in NOx emissions over previous Euro standards – petrol cars are also shown to be very low.
  • The particulate mass limit is comfortably met by all vehicles as a result of the widespread use of exhaust particulate filters.
  • Emissions of NOx are significantly higher than the type approval limits, as has been seen with previous Euro standards. 
  • Under the right conditions, average NOx emission levels from Euro-6/VI heavy-duty engines are now almost as low as diesel cars.
  • There is a particular improvement at lower speeds – important for urban driving environments such as central London.
  • Policies designed to accelerate the uptake of Euro-6/VI would be effective at reducing NOx emissions.
  • There remains a clear need for the Real Driving Emissions protocol proposed by the European Commission to be introduced. This would help to eliminate variance between models and further improve emissions performance.

TfL's report concurs with recent LowCP testing on Euro VI buses, which showed real world NOx emissions from all Euro VI buses tested (gas and diesel) levels below those of the cars and vans limit for Euro 6.  The recently announced LowCVP managed HGV test programme will establish further data on Euro VI truck emissions.

 

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