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ENT9: Environmental performance indicators for heavy duty vehicles

Background and contents

The EU has committed itself to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8% in 2008-2012 compared to the 1990 level. Improving energy efficiency is one way of achieving these targets. By definition, passenger car have become 25% more efficient in the last twenty years, judging by their specific fuel consumption figures. However, fuel consumption data under real life conditions give a different picture. The gain in engine efficiency is often jeopardised by making cars more powerful, faster, comfortable and heavier. This trend has contributed to an increase in CO₂ transport emissions over the past years.

No rating systems exist for large vehicles, vans and especially Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs). Not even a harmonized system for measuring and expressing fuel consumption exists. Therefore, there is a definite need to enhance the data availability in this area, and develop a similar guidelines and rating scheme as already exist for passenger cars. This would greatly help both transport companies and operators in their choice of new vehicles, as well as the public policymakers in their efforts to develop measures that support

Key ideas and objectives

This activity is aimed at conducting a joint research into the possibilities and practical use of EU wide performance indicators/rating scheme for heavy-duty vehicles taking into account both energy efficiency as well as air polluting emissions.

This research will have three subsequent sub-tasks. The first sub-task is to find out what mix of functional and technical specifications are available from the vehicles currently put on the market. Second task is to collect information from the on-going research in Member States that could offer more relevant and realistic information of the environmental performance and fuel use of both new vehicles as well as those already put on the road.

The third task is the development of a rating system for heavy-duty vehicles, resulting in, inter alia, a proposal for a harmonised system for measuring and expressing the fuel consumption in this category. This sub-task also entails the drafting of an implementation scenario for such a rating system. In this effort, existing initiatives (mainly for passenger cars) will be taken as a starting point.

Participating countries

Finland (leader), Sweden and UK. Possible partner include Austria

Expected results and aim of cooperation

The main objective of this research is the development of a harmonised assessment framework and rating system, as well as drafting a scenario for the actual implementation of such an Ecolabel for heavy-duty vehicles and vans. For this purpose the currently available type approval and marketing information will be analysed, as well as current labels, rating methodologies and initiatives in use (mainly for passenger cars) are evaluated. Furthermore, a stakeholder consultation process will be set up. Due to the lack of coherence and great variety in existing labels and rating methodologies in Europe, a joint research action is necessary to bring all existing knowledge, policies, and initiatives together.

Furthermore, in global perspective the development of a rating system for heavy-duty vehicles, resulting in a proposal for a harmonised system for measuring and expressing the fuel consumption (and air quality emissions – if deemed necessary) in this category is also quite a virgin R&D task. Therefore, the need for co-operation between EU Member States is even bigger, since little consensus exists in this area today on international level.

The added value of this action group is collecting the efforts already on-going in different Member States and the raise the awareness of the importance of this topic. Furthermore, it would increase openness for both private initiatives as well as public policies that interactively should work together for the common good. This research will therefore not be a top-down approach. The involvement of both public and private stakeholders in this project is considered of crucial importance.