Applus+ IDIADA helps shape the EU’s roadmap towards the achievement of vehicular transportation sustainability as part of the Fit for 55 package

The paper aims to give a comprehensive overview of the main aspects involved in the fulfilment of the European sustainable transportation milestone, and attempts to clarify the meaning of zero emissions in different contexts.

In doing so, the paper analyses the current starting point  from energy production assessment in the context of x-to-wheel analyses, and provides an assessment on an array of key aspects, such as: zero emission approach for different vehicle types; the impact and implications of pollutants –both regulated and non-regulated, primary and secondary–  and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; the emission control and On-Board Monitoring (OBM) to comply with stricter future regulations that consider the implications of a widened scope of emissions assessment, including non-tailpipe –mainly from tyres and brakes–, noise, and electromagnetic compatibility.

The KPIs for the evaluation and the research needs are described by stating the main expected impacts that can be directly quantified for emissions in alignment with the Green Vehicle Index (GVI) project, coordinated by Applus+ IDIADA, which focuses on clean air, energy efficiency and GHG indexes.

Assessing future technological developments and regulations

Among other aspects, the paper also points out room for improvement of basic components for the development of “near zero” impact powertrains, in the medium- and long-term and for urban environments in particular, by emphasizing that future assessment of technological developments must be based on Well-to-Wheel (WtW) emissions, and on thorough Life Cycle Analyses (LCA).

An overview of energy and power management optimization, mass and volume impact, charging strategies, electromagnetic compatibility for electrified powertrains, as well as the future of internal combustion engines and cybersecurity are also considered.

Finally, regulation aspects such as extended testing conditions and further pollutant considerations are analysed and compared from a worldwide perspective. All these arguments are considered taking into account the acceptance and participation of the general public in order to mitigate change-aversion.

Getting ready to meet European Green Deal needs

Marco Mammetti, Powertrain R&D Manager at Applus+ IDIADA, states “IDIADA has extensive experience in vehicle emissions measurement built up over our history. We are already working to meet the Fit for 55 package’s requirements on long-term sustainability assessments, as part of the European Green Deal framework.”

Currently, Applus+ IDIADA is deploying facilities dedicated to various CO2 neutral emission powertrain assessments, especially battery and fuel cell-based. According to Mammetti, such investments “will allow our clients to develop sustainable vehicles and to achieve the overall emissions reduction target for the transport system in the years to come.”