155. The representative of the European Union presented the informal document WP.29-175-32, which is a revised version of the document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2018/80 that requests authorization to develop a new UN GTR on Global RDE. She highlighted the importance of this request, both technically and politically, with emissions control strategies now being globally developed by vehicle manufacturers.

156. The timeline to develop the new UN GTR on Global RDE is ambitious due to the urgency to tackle the topic in a harmonized, coordinated approach. The process will be opened to all contracting parties interested in developing or improving their own national regulatory procedures.

157. The representatives of Japan and of the Republic of Korea supported the document and expressed the wish to participate to the IWG on Global RDE.

158. The representative of the United States of America expressed his support for GRPE to begin exploring a harmonized test procedure on RDE, as soon as possible, through the work of an IWG on Global RDE.

159. He expressed his support of a data-driven approach that would be inclusive of input from all the contracting parties, and that it would not be pre-determined that the European RDE is the only approach which should be considered.

160. The representative of the United States of America expressed his belief that more time will be needed to be able to consider all inputs from all contracting parties.

161. The representative of the United States of America stated that this work could lead to a UN GTR, though he did not believe that it was necessary at this time to make this decision. He added that an IWG should be formed to explore the development of a harmonized RDE methodology, and at a future meeting of WP.29/AC.3 it could be decided, based on a more inclusive input from the contracting parties, if a UN GTR under the 1998 Agreement would be the appropriate approach.

162. The representative of the United States of America stated that if AC.3 decided to move forward with the development of a UN GTR on Global RDE, the United States of America would participate in the early stages of the development. However, if the process was neither data-driven nor inclusive of input from all contracting parties to the 1998 Agreement, the United States of America would consider exercising the right as a contracting party to make clear that it would not support the eventual adoption of a UN GTR for this new methodology.

163. AC.3 took into consideration the comments of the representative of the United States of America and granted authorization to develop a UN GTR on Global RDE. The request for authorization to develop a new UN GTR on Global RDE is reproduced in Annex V of this report.

164. The Chair of GRPE congratulated all the parties who showed interest in participating in the development of a UN GTR on Global RDE, and encouraged others to join. He stated that the decision to develop a UN GTR on Global RDE represented an important milestone for GRPE activities, as existing United Nations emission’s regulations would be strengthened so as to ensure the adequate operation of state-of-the-art emission control systems in normal conditions of use.

165. He emphasized that the development of a harmonized real driving emissions test procedure would centralize expertise and resources for improved emissions measurement. This would also support significant economies of scale across the automotive sector.

22. The expert from the European Commission advocated for a UN GTR on Real Driving Emissions (RDE) (GRPE-77-30). She briefly introduced draft Terms of References (ToR) that would guide the work of the forthcoming IWG on RDE (GRPE-77-15).

23. The expert from the United States of America showed interest and tentatively supported this nascent activity. He expressed the need to gain expertise, he showed understanding to the EC position but highlighted the need to accommodate regional specificities. He recognized the timeline detailed in the draft ToR to be very ambitious and requested time to study the draft ToRs presented for the first time at this session.

24. The expert of Canada also declared an interest in the work on RDE. He highlighted potential difficulties that the group could face trying to determine a globally harmonized stringency level for RDE.

25. The expert from India also supported this work and vowed to determine a list of parameters to be harmonized. He also stated that the timeline should allow enough flexibility for all CPs to contribute.

26. The expert from China informed that China includes RDE in the latest China 6 standard since the end of 2016. He stated China performed continuous improvements to the RDE regulatory texts and would therefore be interested to participate in the activities of the IWG on RDE.

27. The expert of EC heard the concerns about the timeline that could be adapted at the first meeting of the IWG on RDE. She invited all interested parties that would be interested to participate to the IWG on RDE, subject to AC.3 consent, to send an email to EC-RDE@ec.europa.eu.

28. GRPE supported the idea of activities on RDE and the draft ToRs.

29. The expert from OICA informed on the support to this work and would identify the best candidate to act as secretary to the IWG on RDE. He also expressed concerns about the ambitious timeline (GRPE-77-27).

30. The experts from Japan and the Republic of Korea reiterated their support and interest to be Vice-Chairs to the activity.

31. The Chair of GRPE stated that RDE activities were an important step towards more consistent approaches to ensure low levels of tailpipe emissions under a wide range of operating conditions and congratulated the large number of CPs that showed interest in the topic.

22. The expert from the European Commission advocated for a UN GTR on Real Driving Emissions (RDE) (GRPE-77-30). She briefly introduced draft Terms of References (ToR) that would guide the work of the forthcoming IWG on RDE (GRPE-77-15).

23. The expert from the United States of America showed interest and tentatively supported this nascent activity. He expressed the need to gain expertise, he showed understanding to the EC position but highlighted the need to accommodate regional specificities. He recognized the timeline detailed in the draft ToR to be very ambitious and requested time to study the draft ToRs presented for the first time at this session.

24. The expert of Canada also declared an interest in the work on RDE. He highlighted potential difficulties that the group could face trying to determine a globally harmonized stringency level for RDE.

25. The expert from India also supported this work and vowed to determine a list of parameters to be harmonized. He also stated that the timeline should allow enough flexibility for all CPs to contribute.

26. The expert from China informed that China includes RDE in the latest China 6 standard since the end of 2016. He stated China performed continuous improvements to the RDE regulatory texts and would therefore be interested to participate in the activities of the IWG on RDE.

27. The expert of EC heard the concerns about the timeline that could be adapted at the first meeting of the IWG on RDE. She invited all interested parties that would be interested to participate to the IWG on RDE, subject to AC.3 consent, to send an email to EC-RDE@ec.europa.eu.

28. GRPE supported the idea of activities on RDE and the draft ToRs.

29. The expert from OICA informed on the support to this work and would identify the best candidate to act as secretary to the IWG on RDE. He also expressed concerns about the ambitious timeline (GRPE-77-27).

30. The experts from Japan and the Republic of Korea reiterated their support and interest to be Vice-Chairs to the activity.

31. The Chair of GRPE stated that RDE activities were an important step towards more consistent approaches to ensure low levels of tailpipe emissions under a wide range of operating conditions and congratulated the large number of CPs that showed interest in the topic.

155. The representative of the European Union presented the informal document WP.29-175-32, which is a revised version of the document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2018/80 that requests authorization to develop a new UN GTR on Global RDE. She highlighted the importance of this request, both technically and politically, with emissions control strategies now being globally developed by vehicle manufacturers.

156. The timeline to develop the new UN GTR on Global RDE is ambitious due to the urgency to tackle the topic in a harmonized, coordinated approach. The process will be opened to all contracting parties interested in developing or improving their own national regulatory procedures.

157. The representatives of Japan and of the Republic of Korea supported the document and expressed the wish to participate to the IWG on Global RDE.

158. The representative of the United States of America expressed his support for GRPE to begin exploring a harmonized test procedure on RDE, as soon as possible, through the work of an IWG on Global RDE.

159. He expressed his support of a data-driven approach that would be inclusive of input from all the contracting parties, and that it would not be pre-determined that the European RDE is the only approach which should be considered.

160. The representative of the United States of America expressed his belief that more time will be needed to be able to consider all inputs from all contracting parties.

161. The representative of the United States of America stated that this work could lead to a UN GTR, though he did not believe that it was necessary at this time to make this decision. He added that an IWG should be formed to explore the development of a harmonized RDE methodology, and at a future meeting of WP.29/AC.3 it could be decided, based on a more inclusive input from the contracting parties, if a UN GTR under the 1998 Agreement would be the appropriate approach.

162. The representative of the United States of America stated that if AC.3 decided to move forward with the development of a UN GTR on Global RDE, the United States of America would participate in the early stages of the development. However, if the process was neither data-driven nor inclusive of input from all contracting parties to the 1998 Agreement, the United States of America would consider exercising the right as a contracting party to make clear that it would not support the eventual adoption of a UN GTR for this new methodology.

163. AC.3 took into consideration the comments of the representative of the United States of America and granted authorization to develop a UN GTR on Global RDE. The request for authorization to develop a new UN GTR on Global RDE is reproduced in Annex V of this report.

164. The Chair of GRPE congratulated all the parties who showed interest in participating in the development of a UN GTR on Global RDE, and encouraged others to join. He stated that the decision to develop a UN GTR on Global RDE represented an important milestone for GRPE activities, as existing United Nations emission’s regulations would be strengthened so as to ensure the adequate operation of state-of-the-art emission control systems in normal conditions of use.

165. He emphasized that the development of a harmonized real driving emissions test procedure would centralize expertise and resources for improved emissions measurement. This would also support significant economies of scale across the automotive sector.

159. The representative of the European Union presented WP.29-174-09, proposing a work item called Global Real Driving Emissions (RDE). He proposed that the existing RDE European legislation would be included in the Compendium of candidates. He also proposed the creation of an IWG on RDE and to discuss organizational details at the June 2018 session of GRPE. AC.3 invited the representative of the European Union to prepare an official proposal for formal adoption at the June 2018 session.

160. The representative of Japan, Co-Chair of the IWG on WLTP, mentioned the Japanese plan for RDE as presented during the last GRPE session of January 2018 (GRPE-76-18). He added that the legal text was expected to be published in March 2018 with a potential entry into force in October 2022.

161. He presented WP.29-174-17 proposing amendments to WP.29-174-09. He suggested that Japan could co-sponsor such activities.

162. The representative of Germany welcomed the initiative to work on the global harmonization of RDE. He wondered whether the RDE provision should be inserted in UN GTR No. 15 or in a new UN GTR.

163. The representative of the Republic of Korea also welcomed the initiative to work on RDE at the World Forum. He announced that his country would be willing to co-sponsor this work, involving its Ministry of Environment.

164. The representative of the Netherlands, Chair of GRPE, also welcomed the initiative to work on RDE at the World Forum. He invited all CPs to support the harmonization of RDE provisions with flexible positions, for example on the boundary conditions of the test. He suggested that contracting parties consider the possibility to include harmonized RDE provisions in a new GTR.

159. The representative of the European Union presented WP.29-174-09, proposing a work item called Global Real Driving Emissions (RDE). He proposed that the existing RDE European legislation would be included in the Compendium of candidates. He also proposed the creation of an IWG on RDE and to discuss organizational details at the June 2018 session of GRPE. AC.3 invited the representative of the European Union to prepare an official proposal for formal adoption at the June 2018 session.

160. The representative of Japan, Co-Chair of the IWG on WLTP, mentioned the Japanese plan for RDE as presented during the last GRPE session of January 2018 (GRPE-76-18). He added that the legal text was expected to be published in March 2018 with a potential entry into force in October 2022.

161. He presented WP.29-174-17 proposing amendments to WP.29-174-09. He suggested that Japan could co-sponsor such activities.

162. The representative of Germany welcomed the initiative to work on the global harmonization of RDE. He wondered whether the RDE provision should be inserted in UN GTR No. 15 or in a new UN GTR.

163. The representative of the Republic of Korea also welcomed the initiative to work on RDE at the World Forum. He announced that his country would be willing to co-sponsor this work, involving its Ministry of Environment.

164. The representative of the Netherlands, Chair of GRPE, also welcomed the initiative to work on RDE at the World Forum. He invited all CPs to support the harmonization of RDE provisions with flexible positions, for example on the boundary conditions of the test. He suggested that contracting parties consider the possibility to include harmonized RDE provisions in a new GTR.