Meeting the EU’s WLTP and RDE Requirements for Automotive Emissions and Fuel Economy

The EU’s RDE and WLTP

The intent of the European Union’s new real driving emissions (RDE) testing regulations is to validate under real driving conditions emissions levels as measured in the laboratory. RDE testing involves the use of portable emissions measuring systems (PEMS) that is attached to the vehicle under test. The PEMS measure pollutant emissions while the vehicle is driven outdoors in daytime traffic according to random acceleration and deceleration patterns. RDE test results are then correlated with emissions results obtained in the testing laboratory.

Testing under the EU’s RDE is now required, although testing is currently being conducted solely for monitoring purposes, and a determination of vehicle type approval is based exclusively on laboratory measurements. However, effective 1 September 2017, type approval requirements must also consider emissions levels identified during RDE testing. As a result, vehicles that fail RDE testing from 1 September 2017 may not be permitted to be placed on the market.

Why Is RDE and WLTP Emssions testing important?

• Save time and money by using internationally harmonised testing procedures to obtain comparable testing results for vehicle emissions and fuel economy performance.
• Minimise risks by ensuring compliance with stringent standards for automotive fuel efficiency and vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Find solutions for critical innovation challenges during the development of new automotive technologies by improving vehicle mileage and reducing harmful emissions.
• Overcome shortcomings in the traditional testing schemes used to evaluate fuel efficiency and emission levels and variations in the interpretation by comparing laboratory based results with real driving test results.
• Benefit from complete solutions by utilising our full range of testing, certification and auditing services for all types of automotive products.

TÜV sÜD as your expert Partner to Meet RDE and WLTP requirements

TÜV SÜD’s accredited, state-of-the-art testing facilities are located near major automotive development centres around the world. Each testing facility is equipped to conduct all essential emissions and fuel efficiency tests required for passenger and commercial vehicles and motorcycles in accordance with industry requirements, as well as national regulations and international standards, including the EU’s RDE and the WLTP.

TÜV SÜD is also actively working with partner testing laboratories in China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and U.S. to more closely harmonise emissions testing procedures. The goal of TÜV SÜD’s round robin testing programme is to reduce to the extent possible the number of variables that can affect testing outcomes, thereby helping to ensure consistency in emissions results generated by multiple laboratories testing the same vehicle.

With our round robin testing programme, TÜV SÜD offers automotive manufacturers worldwide harmonised emissions and fuel efficiency testing, reducing the time and expense associated with obtaining global regulatory approval for new vehicle models. The round robin testing programme is just one example of TÜV SÜD’s century-long commitment to supporting the automotive industry with innovative programmes and testing solutions that can address their regulatory compliance challenges.

Testing under the EU’s RDE must also follow the procedures detailed in the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), a core element of Global Technical Regulation 15 (GTR 15), which was approved in March 2014 by the EU, China and nine other countries. The goal of GTR 15 is to provide worldwide harmonised test procedures that can evaluate in a repeatable and reproducible manner emissions levels for a variety of pollutants as well as fuel and electrical energy consumption.

TÜV SÜD's Emissions Testing services for the European Market

TÜV SÜD emissions and fuel economy testing services for the European market include:

• New European drive cycle (NEDC) testing

  Testing used to assess emissions levels and fuel economy for light-duty vehicles and engines under various operating conditions in accordance with European Union requirements.

• Worldwide harmonised light vehicles test procedures (WLTP)

  Testing in accordance with the requirements of a new globally-harmonised standard to determine emissions and fuel economy of light-duty vehicles.

• Portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) testing

   Allows field testing of vehicle emissions to evaluate actual in-use performance.

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) testing

  Evaluates the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) from automobile engines.

• Conformity of production (CoP) testing

  Verifies emissions and fuel economy performance for use in CoP documentation.