Cap HPI launch specialist team to manage impact of real-world testing

Cap HPI has launched a specialist team to help manufacturers, leasing companies and dealers manage the introduction of a new emissions testing regime in 2017.

Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP) is a new approval process for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of cars and LCVs that will focus on CO2 rather than NOX emissions.

For Europe, NOX emission measurement is covered in the Real Driving Emissions (RDE), also being introduced in September 2017.

The Cap HPI WLTP team pulls together experts from its consulting, new and used vehicle data, and forecasting teams. It will work across the vehicle supply chain to help integrate the new regime. 

Matt Freeman, managing consultant at Cap HPI, said: “The new testing regime has wide-ranging impacts across the supply chain. To help customers manage the transition and understand outcomes, we have brought together a team of experts that will model the process and likely effects through the vehicle lifecycle.

“Cap HPI is well positioned to lead on the issue thanks to its extensive customer base and industry-leading new vehicle data. We will be able to deliver the data the industry needs in a wide range of future proofed formats and support the industry through the process.” 

Manufacturers and governing bodies recognise that vehicles contain a significantly higher level of technology than when the various emission standards were introduced, resulting in a disparity between the laboratory testing and real world driving conditions. 

The new regime will be introduced in the EU, Japan, India and South Korea in a staged process. Between September 2017 and December 2019 WLTP type approval testing will be introduced for new vehicles using both NEDC and WLTP type approval procedures. 

CO2 monitoring will be based on NEDC results and WLTP information used for customer information such as CO2 labelling. It is likely that national tax regulations will adapt to utilising WLTP based CO2 values. Correspondingly vehicle manufacturers will optimise vehicle development for this test rather than NEDC.

From 2020 new vehicles will only be tested using WLTP type approval procedure. All CO2 emission targets will have to be met in the WLTP.