Trends in European LD and HD Vehicle Euro 6/VI and Post-Euro 6/VI Emissions Regulations in Relation to Worldwide Regulations and their Impact on Powertrain Technology Development

Abstract

Concern over the impact of the road transport sector on the environment remains high � both in terms of localized air pollution and overall energy consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases. Despite significant improvements in response to stringent legislation, the road transport sector remains a target for further emissions reductions. This presentation examines recent and current trends in the field and analyses likely future requirements. Simultaneous reductions in both pollutant emissions and fuel consumption will be required, which creates somewhat conflicting goals with no simple solutions. The fact that there are emissions/fuel consumption trade-offs, especially over a cold start engine operation cycle, is a fact which must be addressed and taken into consideration at all stages of powertrain development. Continuing optimization of well-known aftertreatment and engine hardware systems with established histories will continue to yield benefits, but the gains are likely to become progressively smaller. Further trends of note are the pressure to move towards fuel- and application-neutral emissions limits, as well as extending the list of regulated pollutants (e.g. PN<10 nm, additional gaseous compounds such as N2O and NH3). The implications of such additional requirements extend well beyond aftertreatment; both light- and heavy-duty vehicular powertrains will have to be substantially modified to meet these future requirements. Another trend relates to wide-ranging demonstrations of real-world compliance, so that emissions benefits are experienced during normal use and emphatically not only under laboratory conditions. These trends and their practical and real-world implications will be explored in the presentation. This presentation will be prepared based on the author�s experiences as a result of membership of the following bodies: 1. World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulation� Working Party of Pollution and Energy (GRPE) at the UN ECE in Geneva, 2. The Advisory Group on Vehicle Emission Standards (AGVES) at European Commission in Brussels that has been created by joining all the relevant expert groups working on emission legislation, in order to provide technical advice to the European Commission for the development of the post-EURO 6/VI emission standards for motor vehicles.