Revision of low temperature emission standards for petrol vehicles

The Commission Regulations (EC) No 692/2008 and 715/2007 set the regulatory framework for type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5/6. In particular these regulations set the emission standards and the related implementing measures, divided into three different steps, that will enter into force between 2009 (Euro 5) and 2014 (Euro 6). However the above mentioned Regulations leave open some issues regarding the Euro 5b and the Euro 6 emission standards to be addressed and defined before the entry into force of these pieces of legislation. As far as the low temperature emission test for gasoline vehicles is concerned the current emission limits, carried over from Euro 3/4, are no longer appropriate for vehicles meeting the Euro 5/6 emission standards. This report provides a picture of the low temperature emission performances (based on type approval data of Type VI test) of the current generation of gasoline vehicles. It also summarizes the main results of the experimental activity carried out at JRC to investigate the behaviour at low temperature of Euro 5 passenger cars and provide useful data for the revision of the low temperature emission standards for gasoline vehicles. Moreover, the analysis includes also results of Ethanol Flex Fuel Vehicles in view of the extension of the low temperature test to this category of vehicles.