Consultation letter
Simon Davies
Senior Engineer
CFV3
Department for Transport
Zone 1/34
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Direct Line: 020 7944 2116
Fax: 020 7944 2512
GTN No: 3533 2116
Email: simon.davies@dft.gsi.gov.uk
8 August 2008
Dear Consultee,
Consultation on European Commission proposal for a new heavy-duty vehicle emission standard (Euro VI)
I am writing to seek your views on a European Commission proposal for a Regulation setting new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on the accompanying United Kingdom Impact Assessment (IA) dealing with the proposal. The proposal is for the replacement of the existing European Directive (2005/55/EC) with a Regulation which would set, in the interests of improved air quality and public health, more demanding emissions limits for future heavy-duty vehicles. The views of engine and vehicle manufacturers, and of vehicle repairers and vehicle operators, are particularly sought.
The proposal involves a reduction of eighty percent in Oxides of Nitrogen and a sixty-seven percent reduction in Particulate Matter emissions limits by comparison with the Euro V standards that they would replace. These new limits are approximately equivalent to the United States Environmental Protection Agency 2010 limits. The proposal also involves requirements for uniform access to repair information for heavy duty vehicles in line with those recently agreed for light duty vehicles, a commitment to introduce a limit on the number of particles emitted to supplement the proposed particulate mass limit, a commitment to performing testing on the world harmonised test cycles, rather than on the currently-used European drive cycle, and a number of other detailed provisions.
The proposed implementation dates for the new standard are April 2013 for new Type Approvals, and October 2014 for all newly registered vehicles.
The accompanying Impact Assessment contains a detailed analysis of the impacts of the proposal and other possible scenarios. This analysis shows the importance of the impacts of the proposal on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Our concern not to understate these impacts has necessitated a more protracted study than we had originally planned. Meanwhile, negotiations on the proposal in the European Union have been progressing with a view to reaching an agreement early in October. In order to gain the greatest benefit from the consultation before a decision is made in Europe it has been necessary on this occasion to shorten the period available for comment on the proposal from the 12 weeks recommended by the Government’s code of practice to six weeks.
Thus responses and enquiries should be sent to the above postal or e-mail address to reach me no later than 17 September. If you can only send an interim response by that time please do so; this, and a later, detailed response, would still be useful.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public authorities to disclose information they hold if it is requested. This includes information contained in responses to consultations. The Department will generally publish subsequently the information it discloses under FOI on its web site. If you ask for your response to be kept confidential this will only be possible if it is consistent with the Departments' obligations under the Freedom of Information Act.
A summary of the consultation will be published on the DfT website after the consultation period ends, paper copies will be available on request.
A list of organisations and stakeholders that we have sent this consultation is given below at Annex A. If you have any suggestions of others who might wish to be involved in the consultation process please let us know.
This consultation has been produced in accordance with the principles of the Government’s 'Code of Practice on Consultation'. A copy of the consultation criteria is included at the end of the Consultation Document.
Yours faithfully,
Simon Davies
