The new CEN Workshop Agreement test involves extensive real-world readings for emissions and fuel consumption. These could cast cleaner modern diesels in a considerably more favourable light when it comes to urban driving.

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The new testing procedure is rigorous and, dare we say it, potentially representative of what drivers will be getting in the real world. Results must be taken from at least two exact examples of a model over the course of three journeys, including a minimum of five six-mile trips on paved roads averaging speeds between 12 and 24mph.

The test is designed to make results repeatable, via portable emissions system equipment. This standardisation is a collaboration between scientists, engineers, politicians and consumer groups alike, with a goal to yield representative and repeatable results. The standard is due to be applied to many different vehicles and as such will supply intriguing supplementary data alongside the new RDE Real Driving Emissions regulations.

Measurements more representative of real-world driving ought to better inform policymakers as they guide manufacturers with targets and legislation. 

“This a landmark day for independent testing of vehicle emissions,” said Massimo Fedeli, co-founder and operations director of lobby group Allow Independent Road-testing (AIR).

“The CEN Workshop Agreement 17379 reflects more than a year of collaboration to reach alignment on the methodology to report the actual NOx emissions from vehicles in urban driving, so that consumers can buy the cleanest car, based on scientific fact. Only when armed with such information can policymakers in cities and governments create fair and effective rules to tackle urban air quality problems.”

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