Description

Research Overview

This Frost & Sullivan research service on European vehicle emission standards and testing procedures analyses globalized vehicle testing procedures with specific focus on the World Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) and New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) testing. The study provides a comparative analysis of test procedures, impacts of various technologies on WLTP and NEDC results, key technologies favouring the shift in testing procedure, challenges in adopting a new test cycle, and upcoming technologies that will aid WLTP adoption. The base year for the research is 2015 and forecasts are provided till 2020 for regions such as Western and Eastern Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific (India, Japan, China, and Australia) and Latin America (Brazil).

Market Overview

WLTP to replace NEDC vehicle testing in Europe

It is mandatory for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to follow vehicle test procedures to comply with emission norms and fuel economy ratings. Europe and North America lead in adopting stringent testing procedures. Currently, European OEMs are using a combination of the NEDC procedure, introduced in the 1970s to measure smog-causing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and CO2 emission and fuel consumption tests. However, the region will be compelled to adopt the more advanced WLTP, which reflects modern driving conditions more accurately by taking into account temperature change, higher vehicle load, higher engine speeds, and lesser stopping phases. WLTP will thus drive advances in downsizing, multiple boosting systems, direct injection engines, hybridization and exhaust systems.

While WLTP will play a vital role in bringing down the emissions level with real time testing conditions for new production fleet, it will impact current technologies that are in use. OEMs will be challenged to shift to newer technologies as it will require higher investments. In the long run though, standardizing test procedures will decrease testing costs as OEMs can share test beds. For now, OEMs should optimize technologies used for NEDC to suit WLTP. Other regions such as North America, China and Japan will continue using NEDC testing and adopt WLTP only in urbanized high emission areas. Once the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and World forum for harmonization of vehicle regulation (WP29 Forum) regularize testing parameters in Europe, they will look at other regions.