First real-world driving emissions test routes approved for UK roads

Horiba Mira receives approval for routes by Dutch authority RDW

A number of real-world driving emissions testing routes have been approved in the UK for the first time.

Japanese vehicle test and engineering company Horiba Mira recently received permission from Dutch approval authority the RDW to carry out the real-world driving emissions (RDE) tests in the UK.

Each route is said to offer unique and mandatory conditions which will enable Horiba Mira engineers to carry out compulsory emissions testing ahead of a change in legislation in 2017. Other RDW approved routes exist in both the Netherlands and in Germany.

Horiba Mira is already a technical service provider for RDW for more than 90 Type Approval subjects, including emissions. With approved RDE routes now in place, Horiba Mira will be able to run RDE certification on RDW’s behalf.

This power has also been approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), the UK vehicle Type Approval authority.

Alan Warburton, powertrain & emissions lead at Horiba Mira, said: “We are incredibly proud to be have been awarded full approval from RDW on a number of our RDE routes, which allow us to carry out certification RDE testing on behalf of the Dutch approval authority.

“The confirmation from both RDW and VCA is testament to the professional relationships we have with these approval authorities and to the technical services we already provide to them. Witnessed RDE tests on a range of vehicles have already been completed and the data submitted as part of the current RDE monitoring phase.”

Horiba Mira’s RDE test process has been designed to provide an accurate and complete measure of vehicle emissions, complying with EU6d type approval standards. As part of its RDE testing, it fits passenger vehicles with a Horiba Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS), which provides real-world data of key pollutants emitted by the vehicle.

Horiba Mira said: “With the approval coming significantly ahead of the adoption of RDE ‘Not to Exceed’ limits for tailpipe emissions across Europe (which will start in September 2017), vehicle manufacturers will be able to have reliable access to a new certification partner with proven test capability.”