PEUGEOT and the new WLTP protocol

Worldwide Harmonised Vehicle Test Procedure

The WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Vehicle Test Procedure) protocol is used on vehicles for European Union approval. It specifies a new test cycle and a new procedure for measuring the fuel consumption, CO2 and regulated pollutant emissions of light vehicles under standard (laboratory)conditions.

The WLTP protocol replaces the previous 1992 approval procedure (NEDC). Since 2017, all new models marketed for the first time have been WLTP-approved. Since September 2018, all vehicles sold must be WLTP-approved. This new laboratory test protocol is complemented by the measurement of pollutant emissions in real use: Real Driving Emission (RDE).

The new WLTP protocol gives you a more accurate view of your vehicle’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

In terms of pollutant emissions, PEUGEOT vehicles equipped with Euro6.2 European standard setting limits on pollutant emissions engines now comply with emission levels required since September 2020.

Thanks to judicious technological choices used in anticipation of regulations (SRC Selective catalytic reduction in diesel and FAP Particulate filter in petrol), PEUGEOT vehicles are already approved by WLTP (mandatory for all passenger vehicles since September 2018), closer to customers’ actual use.

The Stellantis Group has, moreover, publicly supported the introduction of this new procedure since early 2015. In addition, in order to keep you better informed, the Stellantis Group has undertaken a transparency operation by publishing on the brand’s websites its models’ consumption since 2016 and their NO₂ Nitrogen oxide emissions since March 2018 in real conditions of use, according to a protocol developed with NGOs (T&E and FNE) and certified by an independent third-party organisation (Bureau Veritas).

Changes to standardised test procedures

Measurement of emissions to consider adjustments on individual vehicles

Longer distance travelled during cycles

Tests carried out at higher speeds

More nervous and realistic driving behaviour

Longer cycle times

One of the new WLTP aims is ensuring a better representation of the actual conditions of use of vehicles and their current technologies at the time of approval. It defines stricter test conditions and a more dynamic driving profile than the previous NEDC cycle developed in the 1990s. Its construction was based on real driving data, where the NEDC used theoretical driving profiles.

WLTP also produces more accurate values guided by each vehicle’s specifications, including all optional equipment, which can significantly influence fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. WLTP values are in some cases higher than the NEDC values for the same car. Fuel consumption performance is not degraded; the new measurement is simply based on a longer, more rigorous reference system that better reflects current vehicle usage.

NEDC VS WLTP

	NEDC	WLTP
Test cycle	Single test cycle	Dynamic cycle more representative of real driving
Cycle time	20 minutes	30 minutes
Cycle distance	11 kilometre	23.25 kilometre
Driving phases	2 phases, 66% urban and 34% non-urban driving	4 more dynamic phases, 52% urban and 48% non-urban
Average speed	34 kilometre per hour	46.5 kilometre per hour
Maximum speed	120 kilometre per hour	131 kilometre per hour
Influence of optional equipment	Impact on CO₂ and fuel performance not considered under NEDC	Additional features (which can differ per car) are taken into account
Gear shifts	Vehicles have fixed gear shift points	Different gear shift points for each vehicle
Test temperatures	Measurements at 20-30°C	Measurements at 23°C, CO₂ values corrected to 14°C

REAL DRIVING EMISSIONS – RDE

Since September 2018, in addition to the WLTP approval protocol, all manufacturers must measure their models’ real-world driving emissions (RDE) of all vehicles sold in the EU, UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Norway, Liechtenstein, Israel, and Ireland.

During these RDE tests, emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO₂) and fine particles are measured on open roads for more realistic information.

What does WLTP mean?

WLTP stands for ‘Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure’.

This new test procedure analyses more realistically a vehicle’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Since September 2018, all vehicles registered for the first time must be WLTP certified. WLTP is gradually replacing the old NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) procedure.

What is a WLTP driving cycle?

A vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions always depend on each person’s driving style, hence a large amount of international data compiled for the WLTP standard. This data was used to define four representative phases with four average speeds: low, medium, high and very high.

In each phase, braking, accelerating and stopping are measured in different ways, reflecting everyday driving situations. The combination of these phases results in the ‘driving cycle’.

Fuel consumption is given for four different driving situations, with an overall combined value for petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

What does WLTP mean for me?

WLTP protocol means that the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions indicated in your vehicle’s description more accurately reflect the values of real driving situations.

With individual options (e.g. winter tyres or glass roof) taken into consideration, WLTP results in more realistic values based on your exact vehicle.

More realistic values naturally mean that vehicles with a combustion engine have higher consumption and emission values, while electric vehicles (including plug-in hybrids) have a reduced range. This may also lead to an increase in the number of vehicles affected by the CO2 tax.

What does RDE stand for?

RDE stands for ‘Real Driving Emissions’. This new procedure measures emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particles.

As the name suggests, RDEs are measured on open roads in real driving conditions, not in the laboratory. These measurements use an intelligent device called PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement System) on the vehicle’s exhaust during the test.

What does EURO 6 mean?

Euro 6 is the name of the current exhaust emission standard for pollutants. It defines lower maximum values for particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions than the previous Euro 5 standards.

From September 2018*, the EU6c emission standard will become compulsory, and in comparison to EU6b it specifies even lower limits for the content of particulate matter in petrol engine vehicles. The same threshold limit values apply for diesel engine vehicles within the cycle for both EU6b and EU6c.

EU6d-TEMP will be introduced from September 2019* and EU6d from January 2021*, which will once again slightly reduce the threshold limit values for the number of particles and nitrogen oxides in line with RDE.

_{*Applies to new vehicles. New vehicle types will each be subject to the new exhaust emission standards one year earlier.}

What is Selective Catalytic Reduction?

To further reduce a vehicle’s pollutant emission values, liquid ammonia, called AdBlue®, is added to the exhaust systems of diesel vehicles. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) with AdBlue® can reduce nitrogen oxides by up to 90%. This leaves mainly water vapour, nitrogen and CO2.

What is an approval procedure?

A set of standardised parameters, including the test cycle, enabling vehicles to be approved.Also, a single approval procedure makes it possible to compare different vehicles’ fuel consumption and CO2 emissions with each other.

The NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) had been in force since 1992, and was replaced by the WLTP in September 2018.

Why change the approval procedure?

The former NEDC procedure was deemed unrepresentative of our customers’ actual usage. The consumption measured with WLTP will be closer to our customers’ consumption.

Will my fuel consumption increase?

With these new WLTP values, there is no impact on your car’s fuel consumption. Longer and more rigorous, the WLTP test procedure results in a higher CO2/g/km value for the same vehicle compared to NEDC – meaning that the WLTP better reflects the current situation. In other words, the higher CO2 value does not mean an increase in fuel consumption, but that CO2 testing is more realistic.

Peugeot and the new WLTP protocol

WLTP

WLTP

Worldwide Harmonised Vehicle Test Procedure