Environmental and Propulsion Performance Requirements for L-category Vehicles | Session 3 | 7 Jun 2013
Geneva
Agenda Item 5.
Contributions from stakeholders

The European Commission presented document EPPR-03-05e:

  • Test type I emission laboratory test equipment can be commonly used for 2-, 3- or 4-wheeled vehicles.
  • The only differentiation for 2-, 3- or 4-wheeled vehicles that needs to be made, is for the determination of the test bench settings: ‘coast down’ provisions and equivalent inertia mass & running resistances.
  • The EC proposes all types of L-category vehicles (2-, 3- or 4-wheels) should follow the same test cycle, the WMTC.

Part of this suggestion is to replace conventional ECE47 test cycle used to type approve L1e (mopeds and light scooters), L2 (three-wheel mopeds) and L6e (light quadricycles) with a new test cycle based on urban, low vehicle speed, part 1 of WMTC test cycle.

The EC explained that R47 is an artificial test cycle: It contains idle, wide open throttle, constant speed phases (20 and 40 km/h) and some accelerations in between, but does not allow sufficient assessment of emission performance in the part-load area. Phase 1 of the WMTC is applied for 50 cm3 motorcycles and should therefore also be applied for 49 cm3 mopeds, allowing a more realistic emission verification of low displacement vehicles operated simulating dynamic conditions occurring in modern urban traffic.

Following the EC’s explanation for Type I, IMMA expressed its concern that the group is losing the agreed emphasis for OBD and EVAP.

The chair disagreed and confirmed that OBD and EVAP remain top priorities as requested by Japan.

The chair added it was his understanding from previous working group meeting that OBD and EVAP would be dealt with as first together with Type I.

Hungary asked for a justification to change the current test cycle for mopeds.

India explained that WMTC was designed for L3 vehicles and that driving data was collected for the creation of it. India considered EC’s synthesis a paper exercise. For expansion to other categories, India suggested collecting data or at least doing a validation.

NL suggested that EC should not only address the problem of mopeds not able to reach the maximum speed of WMTC part 1. NL doubted that mopeds with 1 or 2 horsepower would be able to follow the trace and suggested this needs to be looked at, stating also there would be no time to do this.

D-Heinz Steven explained that the specific dynamic behavior of vehicles cannot be ignored. If WMTC part one would need to be applied to mopeds, the whole cycle would need to be rescaled.

The EC saw no need to collect data, as lots of data was collected for WMTC. The EC stated that the border at at 50 cc is arbitrary and is not technically justified. 50cc motorcycles are already in the scope but are only limited to a certain maximum speed.. The EC said a test cycle is a compromise between regions and the same compromise for mopeds should be made.

Japan presented document EPPR-03-04e:

  • Domestic EVAP and OBD draft regulations for L3 vehicles are to be finalized by end of 2013. As such, Japan suggests to put priority on EVAP and OBD in the EPPR working group.
  • Japan suggested having a detailed discussion in the next meeting in India. Japan outlined a draft EVAP test flow, indicating identified points for discussion.
  • For OBD, Japan will report at next meeting.

The chairman confirmed EVAP and OBD are highest priority for the group.

Documentation
EPPR-03-04 Status of regulations relevant to EPPR and L3 category vehicles in Japan (MoE-Japan and MLIT)
EPPR-03-05 International environmental and propulsion performance requirements for L-category vehicles – EC perspective (EC)