Vehicle emission testing is crucial for assessing fuel consumption, CO2, and pollutant emissions. These tests, conducted in controlled laboratory settings using specific driving cycles, ensure reproducibility and comparability across different car models. This standardized approach, especially with the introduction of the Worldwide harmonised Light-duty vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), allows consumers to make informed decisions when considering factors like environmental impact and fuel efficiency, even for high-performance vehicles like an 812 Car.
The automotive industry has transitioned from the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) to the more rigorous WLTP to provide consumers with realistic data that better reflects real-world driving conditions. NEDC, while historically significant, dating back to 1970 and evolving over time to include urban and extra-urban phases, suffered from limitations. Its low average speed of 34 km/h, gentle accelerations, and a maximum speed of just 120 km/h were no longer representative of modern driving styles or the diverse road types encountered daily by vehicles, including performance models.
In contrast, the WLTP procedure employs new Worldwide harmonised Light-duty vehicle Test Cycles (WLTC) to measure fuel consumption, CO2, and pollutant emissions. WLTP is designed to offer a more dynamic driving profile characterized by more significant accelerations and higher speeds. The maximum speed in WLTP increases to 131.3 km/h, the average speed rises to 46.5 km/h, and the total cycle time extends to 30 minutes, a substantial increase from the NEDC’s 20 minutes. The distance traveled in the WLTP cycle doubles to 23.25 kilometers, providing a much broader and more realistic assessment.
The WLTP test comprises four parts categorized by speed: Low (up to 56.5 km/h), Medium (up to 76.6 km/h), High (up to 97.4 km/h), and Extra-high (up to 131.3 km/h). These segments simulate a range of driving scenarios, from urban and suburban environments to extra-urban roads and motorways. Furthermore, WLTP takes into account vehicle-specific options that affect aerodynamics, rolling resistance, and overall vehicle mass. This detailed approach results in a CO2 value that accurately reflects the unique characteristics of each individual vehicle configuration, ensuring that the emission figures are pertinent to the actual car being tested, whether it’s a standard model or a high-performance 812 car variant.
In conclusion, the shift to WLTP represents a significant advancement in vehicle emission testing. By providing a more realistic and comprehensive evaluation of fuel consumption and emissions, WLTP offers consumers, including those interested in performance vehicles, a clearer understanding of a car’s environmental impact and fuel efficiency in modern driving conditions. This evolution in testing procedures is crucial for both regulatory compliance and for empowering informed consumer choices in the automotive market.
