News

After a consultation period on the emissions levels to be allowed under Euro-6 for goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, the European Commission has released the feedback it received from the industry. The vast majority of responses from 55 organisations across Europe welcomed the introduction of stringent limits for pollutant emissions, with most also supporting a single-step approach to Euro-6 rather than  a two-step route.

In general terms transport operators and some national administrators support a 'fuel-neutral' scenario in which NOx accounts for 0.5g/kWh. However the motor industry and other national administrators favour more stringent limits, restricting NOx to 0.4g/kWh. Additional requirements for on-board diagnostics, off-cycle emissions and service conformity have also been requested. Here are what some of the respondents had to say...

Road Haulage Association:

The RHA cites the DfT's report on air quality in the UK which shows that NOx and PM from LGVs are not a major cause of poor air quality in the UK. As a result it believes reducing NOx and PM for Euro-6 would not bring a notable improvement in air quality. The association also believes the industry needs to retain a choice of SCR and EGR technologies to help maintain competition between manufacturers and warns that any move  to combine to two could lead to increased fuel consumption. The RHA adds that a balance must be struck between air quality, technical complexity and cost.

Greater London Authority:

The mayor of London says emissions standards need to be as stringent as possible he wants the emission testing cycles to be amended so as to require future Euro standards to deliver the required benefits under urban driving conditions. The GLA has asked the EC to consider setting emission limits for NO2 as well as NOx, saying this is particularly important as the PM limit is likely to lead to an increase in emissions abatement equipment which might increase NOx emissions in the form of NO2 in NOx.

British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association

While recognising the need to make the emissions limits more stringent, the BVRLA highlights concerns about the effect these limits will have on the cost of new LGVs. In addition it says unless there are sufficient fiscal incentives for the early take-up and continuing use of Euro-6 the additional costs cannot be recovered from the second-hand vehicle market. This is because used truck buyers would need to be convinced of the benefits of paying more for a Euro-6 truck when an equivalent vehicle is available at a lower Euro standard for a lower price.

Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services

Lacors is in favour of the introduction of further euro-standards and says it is desirable to restrict emission of pollutants as stringently as possible. But it stresses this should not be at the expense of increasing CO2 emissions.

Sadler Consultants

The air quality policy experts says the standards for PM together with the test regime should ensure that 'cycle-beating' is not used to meet the standards - in other words we must avoid solutions that will pass the Euro-6 test but would fail out of the road. Sadler also believes that air quality and CO2 levels are both important so a balance between the two needs to be found.

There were 50 other responses to the consultation.