Because of the shortcomings of the old car emissions test, the European Union has introduced a new lab test, called the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). With the WLTP, testing conditions have become much more realistic.
All these elements make the new WLTP test more accurate than the old lab test (NEDC, short for the New European Driving Cycle).
- What is WLTP and how does it work?
- What is the purpose of the WLTP lab test?
- What are the benefits of WLTP?
- From NEDC to WLTP: What will change?
- When will the WLTP changes take place?
- How to ensure a smooth transition to WLTP?
The key issues are:
- Labelling: ensuring a smooth transition in the system of labelling from the old test (NEDC) to the new test (WLTP), so that the customer is not confused.
- Data collection: there are challenges on how to collect NEDC and WLTP data reliably from all 28 EU member states, in order to legally monitor compliance with the CO2 fleet targets.
- Future standards: as emissions will be measured differently in the future, governments need to ensure that CO2-based taxation will be fair in the transition period between the old and the new lab test.