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Real Driving Emissions: Survey Results

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Will Hornick
Will Hornick
10/02/2013

Emissions testing in the lab forms an essential part of the type approval procedure for light-duty vehicles within the EU. Lab emissions testing may not represent actual on-road emissions. Therefore, Real Driving Emissions (RDE) is a major topic of discussion within upcoming emissions legislation.

Automotive IQ surveyed our international contacts working in and around light-duty vehicle emissions in order to learn whether or not the experts agree that RDE is a necessary next step, what are the most challenging aspects of RDE testing, what is most in need of improvement in regard to current Portable Emissions Measurement Systems, and what technology is believed to have the most potential to succeed in the new testing methods.

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The Need for RDE

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Emissions legislation continues to become more stringent. The rules can act as a technology push by forcing manufacturers to come up with innovations in order to meet each new level of standards. There is of course a research and development cost to innovation. Our survey asked whether or not there is a true need for RDE due to current lab test procedures not giving an accurate picture of the vehicle’s real world emission. The resounding answer from respondents was "Yes" (91%).

Challenges for Your Business

Overall, those surveyed replied that the biggest challenges regarding RDE are Optimizing Aftertreatment Systems (52%), Application of Measurement Technology (39%) and Finding Ideal RDE Simulation Models (38%). Further analysis revealed that responses from OEM representatives and exhaust manufacturers confirmed that Optimizing Aftertreatment Systems is a major challenge (58% and 60% respectively).

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However, 70% of respondents from exhaust manufacturers chose the Application of Measurement Technology as a challenge for their businesses.



PEMS Devices: Needs for Improvement


Where do the experts see the most urgent need for improvement in PEMS devices that are currently on the market?

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Overall, 57% surveyed replied that reducing system size and application in small vehicles is the area in need of the most urgent improvement and over 42% mentioned data accuracy. Interestingly, as shown in the chart above on the right, respondents representing measurement system providers overwhelmingly listed the need to improve the ability to measure particle number as urgent (71%).


Summary

There is a resounding need for real driving emissions testing as 91% of those surveyed agree. Current PEMS devices fall short due to packaging constraints and possibly their data accuracy and a number of challenges still exist but there is general agreement that the optimization of aftertreatment systems is greatest and therefore a priority. Two additional major challenges noted are how to apply RDE measurement technology and finding ideal simulation models.

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Will Hornick is the Managing Editor of Automotive IQ


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