Working Party on Pollution and Energy | Session 85 | 11-14 Jan 2022
Geneva hybrid session
Agenda Item 13.
Lifetime compliance

66. The representative from CITA introduced GRPE-85-30 and GRPE-85-31 presenting the main outcomes of a report on emissions tampering using an urea emulator installed in an Euro VI A heavy truck. The representative from OICA stated that they fully oppose the sale and use of emulators, which is bad for the reputation of car manufacturers; He called for a holistic picture to be considered to mitigate the potential for tampering, highlighting that increased stringency during PTI tests might not be sufficient, with some actors proposing to temporarily revert the tampering to pass PTI tests. The representative from CITA agreed and supported the statement from the representative from OICA, and insisted that tampering is a technical and also behavioural issue, and recalled that inspection and approval performed in isolation were not effective to fully prevent tampering.

67. The representative from the EC called for the existing provision on anti-tampering to be effectively enforced, inviting countries to forbid the sale and use of such emulators. The representative from OICA gave the example of the Swiss law which seemed effective with high penalties and strong enforcement.

68. The Co-Chair from the IWG on PTI called for more expertise needed in the IWG on PTI and suggested to create a task force between GRPE and the IWG on PTI to initiate activities on the issue. The Chair highlighted the need for more collaboration between type approval, certification and PTI, and supported the proposal for the Co-Chair from the IWG on PTI to put together ideas towards the creation of a task force during the next session of GRPE.

69. The Co-Chair of the IWG on PTI introduced GRPE-85-40 introducing the draft Framework Document on Vehicle Whole-Life Compliance (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2021/148). The representative from CITA supported the proposal. The representative from the EC highlighted some inconsistencies in the diagram shown and sought clarifications on the intention of the document. The Chair also highlighted some differences between EU and UN legislative framework which might lead to misinterpretation of the document.

70. The Co-Chair of the IWG on PTI agreed the document could be improved and agreed that it would be beneficial to present the discrepancies between different countries/regions to improve the harmonization offered by the activities developed within WP.2929 and its subsidiary bodies.

71. The secretariat proposed to report to WP.29 that GRPE identified potential improvements to the draft Framework Document on Vehicle Whole-Life Compliance, and that a proposal for improvement would be formalized during the next session of GRPE in June 2022 and communicated to WP.29 during its June 2022 session. The representatives from Sweden, the UK, and OICA as well as the Co-Chair of the IWG on PTI supported that approach. GRPE agreed to keep this item on the agenda for its next session.

72. The representative from the EC introduced GRPE-85-34 on the particle number measurement during Periodic Technical Inspection (PTI) tests. The Chair recommended to harmonize the activities between the EC and the IWG on PTI that is working on similar issues. He also informed GRPE that the Co-Chair of the IWG on PTI from the Netherlands agreed to table the proposed amendment to R.E.6. in GRPE prior to WP.29 submission. The representative from the EC expected to release a first draft of their recommendations to European authorities one month after the GRPE session and agreed to share and collaborate with the IWG on PTI.

73. The representative from Spain, supported by the representative from CITA, called for in-depth harmonization of the methodology and not-to-exceed limits, which the Chair fully supported; The Chair also suggested an updated Type 2 test might be need in type approval legislation to provide a basis for comparison at PTI tests. GRPE agreed to keep this item on the agenda for forthcoming sessions of GRPE.

Documentation
GRPE-85-30 Emissions Tampering: Urea emulator installed in an Euro VI A heavy truck (CITA and IDIADA)
GRPE-85-31 Supporting information on Urea emulators and emissions tampering (CITA)
GRPE-85-34 New Periodic Technical Inspection – Particle Number Measurement (JRC)
GRPE-85-40 PTI: Presentation on Framework Document on Vehicle Whole-Life Compliance (CITA)
WP.29/2021/148 Proposal for a Framework Document on Vehicle Whole-Life Compliance