Better control of CO2 emissions from road transport to curb climate change

The news

Opening of the new "VELA 7" facility to test fuel consumption and emissions of trucks and buses. The new installation at the JRC Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) realistically simulates wind drag, tyre/road friction and full drive cycles for real-life articulated lorries of up to 40 tonnes or 12m long buses. It comes at a crucial time when the definition of implementation guidelines for new emission standards, notably the Euro VI regarding heavy duty vehicles, must be completed by 1st April 2010.

The background

The work of the VELA laboratory is focused above all on the impact on the environment. It is engaged in assessing new technologies (e.g. exhaust fume purification) and diagnostic systems, in the analysis of the impact of alternative fuels and fuel additives on emissions, and in the efficiency of alternative propulsion systems (hydrogen power, hybrid engines).

As part of its programme, the laboratory has carried out an extensive range of tests – in collaboration with the European Automobile and Petroleum Industry Associations –to ascertain the hydrocarbon emissions of vehicles fuelled with bio-ethanol blends, while also studying the sustained performance of electric cars on its chassis dynamometer. Another focus of the laboratory's work is studying the emission levels of heavy duty vehicles (HDV). With the help of European HDV manufacturers, emissions were measured and studied under real world conditions while vehicles were operated on the road.

Press release

Greening buses and trucks! Commission's research centre opens new CO2 emissions testing laboratory.

Speaking points of Commissioner Potočnik

Contact

Berta Duane, JRC Press officer Ispra (IT): Tel.: +39 033278 9743

Background documents

Fact sheet: VELA 7 - Emission test facility for heavy duty vehicles

Fact sheet: The Vehicle Emission Laboratories (VELA) at JRC EN IT

JRC report on biofuels (March 2008)

Pictures

Complete photo descriptions in English and in Italian

Emission test facility for light duty vehicles (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) – Energy efficiency test on a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle© EC (2009)
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Emission test facility for light duty vehicles (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) – Emission test on a passenger car© EC (2009)
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Emission test facility for small engines - Emission test on an engine for handheld machinery (grass mower)© EC (2009)
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Emission test facility for small engines - Emission test on an engine for handheld machinery (trimmer)© EC (2009)
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Emission test facility for large engines - Emission test on an engine for heavy duty vehicles© EC (2009)
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Emission test facility for large engines - Emission test on an engine for heavy duty vehicles© EC (2009
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Emission test facility for large engines - Emission test on an engine for heavy duty vehicles© EC (2009)
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Emission test facility for heavy duty vehicles – Dilution tunnel for exhaust gas and analyzers for gaseous pollutants: Calibration of the analysers© EC (2009)
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Emission test facility for heavy duty vehicles – Sampling lines for exhaust gas and on-line analyser for unregulated pollutants© EC (2009)
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