GRIP CEE 2017 / Main Report

Triggered by the behaviour of Volkswagen in the US in 2015, it has recently come under discussion whether new diesel cars reach the EURO 6 standards only under laboratory conditions, while emitting much higher quantities of harmful substances during normal operating conditions. This effect is even intensified when considering that commercial vehicles in urban areas typically operate in a stop-and-go mode, e. g. garbage collection trucks. In this low power range, the diesel engine is very inefficient and emits more NO x and PM than in test driving cycles. According to a study by DLR in 2013 (shown in Figure 5.11), the real NO x emissions exceeded the limit while the EURO 5 standards were in force. A similar study by the International Council on Clean Transportation in 2016 (given in Figures 5.12 and 5.13) also suggests that passenger cars do not meet the EURO 6 standards under normal operating conditions either. These facts put pressure on the manufacturers and may lead to a tightening of EURO 6 for diesel, causing a further increase in the cost of after-treatment. It should also be noted that diesel engines generally fulfil the foreseen environmental requirements only in a narrow band of operating conditions (especially with regard to ambient temperatures). By contrast, combustion engines using NG fulfil all emissions requirements regardless of the NGVs´ operational mode, speed, and load.

0.6 g/km

0.6 g/km

0.5

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.2

Limit 0.18

0.1

0.1

Limit 0.08

0

0

Diesel

CNG

CNG

Diesel

Figure 5.11: Real NO x emission of a mid-sized passenger car while EURO 5 was in force (Source: DLR [Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt] & Partners [July 2013])

Figure 5.12: Real NO x emission of a mid-sized passenger car while EURO 6 is in force (Source: DLR [Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt] & Partners [July 2013]) and The International Council on Clean Transportation [December 2016])

4.5 3.5 4.0 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 5.0 g/km

0 1.0 0.5

EURO V

EURO VI

EURO 6

Figure 5.13: Real NO x emissions of a heavy-duty diesel vehicle and a passenger diesel vehicle (Source: The International Council on Clean Transportation [December 2016])

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Central Eastern Europe GRIP 2017