EU Parliament Adopts Weakened New Emission Limits
As expected, the European Parliament has voted in favor of measures that will narrow but not eliminate the gap between vehicle emission levels in lab tests and those measured under real-world conditions.
#regulations
As expected, the European Parliament has voted in favor of measures that will narrow but not eliminate the gap between vehicle emission levels in lab tests and those measured under real-world conditions.
Tests commissioned by the EC last year showed that on-the-road emissions of nitrogen oxides from diesel engines can be four times as high as allowed by European standards. The EC’s environmental panel proposed narrowing the gap to 60% by 2020 and requiring lab and road test results to match thereafter.
The compromise adopted earlier today allows a 110% gap until 2020 and a 50% discrepancy indefinitely thereafter. Backers says the adopted limits will dramatically reduce the emissions gap without imposing undue hardship on carmakers. Those favoring the tougher standards proposed last October complain the compromise puts auto industry profits ahead of cleaner air.
A proposal to scrap the plan and start over lost by a vote of 317 to 323, with 61 abstentions. Observers said rewriting the rules could delay any change in test procedures for two years.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Feds Probe Another Tesla Crash Involving Autopilot Feature
Federal investigators are looking into another crash involving a Tesla Model S electric sedan that was operating in semi-autonomous mode.
-
Study: How States Should Update Traffic Laws for Autonomous Cars
U.S. states should require that all automated cars have a licensed driver on board, suggests a study by the Governors Highway Safety Assn.
-
Porsche Racing to the Future
Porsche is part of VW Group and it is one of the companies that is involved in putting vehicles on the U.S. market with diesel engines in violation of EPA emissions regulations, specifically model year 2013–2016 Porsche Cayenne Diesel 3.0-liter V6 models.