The European Commission has announced its long-awaited draft Euro 5
emission limits for passenger cars, scheduled to come into force in
2008. After receiving input from some of its OEM-member companies, the
European Natural Gas Vehicles Association (ENGVA) provided comment on
draft standards issued earlier, pursuing its long-standing objective to
create a non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) standard.
An NMHC standard, which would recognize NGV’s contribution to ozone
reduction, has been included in North American and Japanese emissions
law for a decade or more.
Since it inception in 1994, ENGVA has been promoting the need for a
non-methane hydrocarbon standard. Although methane is a greenhouse gas
it does not contribute to the formation of ozone, one of the main
procurers to smog. Since 85%
of NGV hydrocarbon emissions are methane, ENGVA and the broader NGV
industry have promoted a split of the total hydrocarbon into a
non-methane HC standard to take into consideration NGVs improved
performance, particularly over CO2 emissions.
Many manufacturers, relying on catalyst technologies designed especially for
methane, have brought down the hydrocarbon limits below the allowable
limits. But these raise the price of vehicles to the consumer by €
200-500. ENGVA also has agreed that, if the concern about methane
emissions due to global warming impacts is raised, that a ‘cap’ on
methane emissions of 0.1g/km would be considered acceptable.
The review process, according to the European Commission, will continue through
December. Indications are that the standards will be finalized at the
end of the year but it remains to be seen whether the Commission will
keep to its schedule. The next meeting of the Motor Vehicle Emissions
Group, where these standards typically are discussed by member states
and other interested stakeholders, is anticipated to take place
sometime in December 2005.
More information – info@engva.nl
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