How do global standards change the automotive industry? Uncover the global impact behind WLTP!

With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, governments and regions around the world are working hard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Against this background, the global automobile industry is also facing unprecedented challenges and changes. Among them, the implementation of Worldwide Standardized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) is undoubtedly an important turning point.

WLTP is designed to replace the earlier NEDC standard, and its main goal is to more accurately reflect fuel consumption and emissions under actual driving conditions.

History and background of WLTP

The establishment of WLTP stems from different testing procedures in various countries, integrating different standards including the Worldwide Heavy Duty Vehicle Certification Program (WHDC) and the Worldwide Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC). The United Nations Economic and Social Council officially released this standard in 2015, and has received support from countless countries, including China, Japan, the United States, and the European Union.

From NEDC to WLTP: The transformation of testing standards

As of September 1, 2019, all light vehicles registered in European countries (including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Turkey) must comply with WLTP standards. The formulation of this new standard is based on the problem that NEDC has long been outdated. Its design was started in the 1980s and no longer truly reflects current driving behaviors and conditions.

WLTP is more dynamic in design, with longer test times and a wider range of driving distances and speeds.

Detailed requirements for testing procedures

The WLTP test procedure specifies very strict test conditions, including climatic factors, vehicle load, fuel quality, etc. Based on the vehicle's power-to-weight ratio (PWr), WLTP divides light vehicles into three categories for more targeted testing. For example, low-power vehicles (PWr <= 22) and high-power vehicles (PWr > 34) need to face different test scenarios and standards.

WLTP actual driving emissions test

In addition to laboratory testing, UNECE has also introduced a program called Real Driving Emissions Test (RDE), which mainly tests nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions. In various driving environments, RDE uses portable emission measurement systems (PEMS) to monitor the real-time emissions of vehicles to ensure that legal emission standards are not exceeded in real driving scenarios.

The importance of the second revision of WLTP

The second revision of WLTP focuses on fuel and energy consumption monitoring of light-duty vehicles, and makes more detailed requirements for hybrid vehicles. In addition, since 2021, newly introduced monitoring equipment has become essential, ensuring the accuracy of data has further promoted industry transparency.

These changes not only improve the accuracy of emission tests, but also provide consumers with more realistic car purchasing guidance.

Conclusion

The implementation of WLTP is not only an important measure for the automotive industry to respond to environmental protection requirements, but also promotes the unification and collaboration of global automotive standards. In the future, as more countries or regions join, WLTP will likely have a more profound impact and further promote the transformation of the automotive industry. As for the development of the global automotive industry, what other important changes do you think will happen?

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