EU opens CO2 emissions testing laboratory
March 23, 2009
"VELA 7", a new facility for testing the fuel consumption and emissions of trucks and buses was opened last week at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, Italy.
It is able to realistically simulate wind drag, tyre/road friction and full-drive cycles for real-life articulated lorries of up to 40 tonnes or 12m-long buses.
This will enable JRC researchers to tackle the challenges in implementing current, and developing future, emission standards for lorries and buses by using test cycles that are very close to real-life conditions.
The facility will be involved in preparing implementation guidelines for new emission standards, notably the Euro VI regarding heavy duty vehicles which must be defined by 1 April 2010.
"The research centre provides us with the scientifically robust and independent data which underpin the standards in EU environmental regulations to fight air pollution and reduce the negative impact from road transport," EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potočnik said.
Given that Europe's freight transport by trucks totals 1888 billion tonne-kilometres every year, increasing trucks' efficiency will significantly reduce fuel consumption.
With measurements going far beyond those achievable on simple engine test stands, VELA 7 can test a whole range of alternative fuels and exhaust gas after-treatment systems in existing and future truck configurations.
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