11:34 am, November 2, 2015
THE European Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has reiterated its commitment to new real-world emissions tests, whilst warning that it will be difficult for manufacturers to meet, and will result in diesels being phased out earlier than expected.
Following Wednesday’s meeting between the European Commission’s regulatory committee and member states, the ACEA has accepted the need for new real driving emissions (RDE) testing – which comes in to force from September 2017 – whilst admitting that diesel cars will need to be axed earlier than planned.
The ACEA state that new emissions testing will result in serious economic implications, as well as making it more difficult for manufacturers to meet the CO2 emission reduction targets set for 2021.
Erik Jonnaert, ACEA secretary general, said: ‘RDE testing of cars on real roads under realistic driving conditions will be a new addition to the existing test requirements, making Europe the only region in the world to implement such real world testing for cars.
The automobile industry is ready to engage with Europe’s policy makers to examine how to reconcile higher air quality standards with ambitious climate change policies.’
The RDE tests intend to bridge the gap between the current emissions tests, which use a laboratory, and the more realistic conditions experienced on the road.
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