European Commission proposes monitoring of consumption data in connection with vehicle servicing and inspection

On 23 July 2020, the Government submitted a letter to Parliament regarding the proposal of the European Commission to monitor the actual fuel or energy consumption data of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

The EU has laid down CO2 limit values that are binding on the vehicle manufacturers, determining the maximum carbon dioxide emissions permitted for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, such as vans weighing less than 3,500 kg, during driving. The most recent regulation on emission limit values entered into force at the beginning of this year. According to the Regulation, vehicle manufacturers and national authorities are required to monitor and report whether the real-world CO2 emissions and fuel or energy consumption of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles during driving are in line with the limit values.

The Commission has the power to adopt an Implementing Regulation that could require the recording of consumption data during driving. The objective is to obtain information, as early as possible, on whether the real-world carbon dioxide emissions of a vehicle meets the type-approval requirements for the maximum emissions.

According to the Commission's proposal, Member States should, from 2021 onwards, collect and report monitoring data recorded by the onboard fuel consumption meter (OBFCM) to be fitted in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Vehicle manufacturers would be required to provide data for new vehicles fitted with devices that record data in the vehicle manufacturer's database when the vehicle is being repaired or serviced. In addition, Member States should ensure that vehicle inspection stations collect and store vehicle consumption data recorded by the OBFCM equipment from 2021 onwards in connection with periodic roadworthiness tests from vehicles registered on or after 1 January 2021. This data would be reported to the European Environment Agency starting from 1 April 2022.

The Government considers it important that the EU is better equipped to compare the real-world consumption data from vehicles against type-approval values. Wireless data transfer from vehicles must be a future goal, and related development work must continue.

The Government also feels it would be important to explore other alternative ways of collecting data than just periodic roadworthiness tests. A sufficient transition period should be ensured for the vehicle inspection sector and the authorities. If the regulation was adopted as proposed by the Commission, the authority responsible for data collection and the vehicle inspection companies would have to upgrade their equipment and data systems very quickly, which could result in higher vehicle inspection prices.

What next?

The Climate Change Committee is likely to vote on the Commission proposal in autumn 2020.

Inquiries:

Kimmo Kiiski, Senior Transport Adviser, tel. +358 295 342 304, kimmo.kiiski(at)lvm.fi

Pinja Oksanen, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 342 182, pinja.oksanen(at)lvm.fi