Current And Future Emission Standards For Exhaust Gases And Noise, And Test Procedures For Goods Vehicles

Abstract

Summary The emergence of the European Internal Market will result in an increase of the road transport of goods. Truck manufacturers and governments are keenly aware of the environmental issue posed by this increase and are reviewing the actions that should be undertaken to contain the impact of commercial vehicles on the environment in terms of exhaust emissions and noise levels. Exhaust emissions and noise from commercial vehicle diesel engines are presently regulated by Dir. 88/77/EEC and Dir. 84/424/EEC. A recent Commission proposal introduces a two-step plan for a further reduction in the exhaust emission limit values to be implemented in 1992 and 1996 respectively. It will apply to commercial vehicle diesel engines and is based on a test procedure which closely reflects the present conditions on European roads. At the same time, the truck industry, the Commission and Government experts are actively pursuing the definition of possible noise levels that could still be achieved in series production vehicles. However, a further reduction in noise standards raises the problem of redefinig the measuring method before numerical recommendations can be proposed. The introduction of these requirements will have an important impact on vehicle design and will represent a major challenge for the auto industry. It also raises the question of the quality of the diesel fuels that will be available on the market in the years to come. Diesel fuel characteristics have an effect on both noise and exhaust emission levels. They should therefore be covered by an appropriate set of specifications.