Vehicle emission and fuel consumption tests are vital for comparing car models, ensuring fair standards, and providing consumers with reliable data. These tests are conducted in controlled laboratory settings using specific driving cycles to guarantee reproducibility and comparability. For years, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) served as the standard in Europe. However, to better reflect real-world driving conditions and the advancements in vehicle technology, including high-performance electric vehicles like a potential Electric Ferrari, the Worldwide harmonised Light-duty vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) was introduced on September 1, 2017, gradually replacing the NEDC protocol.
The NEDC, established in 1970 and updated over the years, was the prevailing European standard for measuring emissions and fuel consumption in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Initially focused on urban driving, it expanded in 1992 to include an extra-urban phase and was adopted for CO2 emission measurements in 1997. Despite its long-standing use, the NEDC’s driving cycle became outdated, no longer representing contemporary driving styles or the distances covered on various road types. The NEDC is characterized by a low average speed of just 34 km/h, gentle accelerations, and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. These parameters are not truly indicative of modern driving, especially when considering the capabilities of advanced vehicles, including high-performance electric sports cars.
In contrast, the WLTP procedure employs new Worldwide harmonised Light-duty vehicle Test Cycles (WLTC) designed to offer consumers more realistic data that aligns more closely with everyday vehicle use. The WLTP introduces a more dynamic driving profile featuring more significant acceleration and higher speeds. The maximum speed in WLTP is increased to 131.3 km/h, the average speed is 46.5 km/h, and the total test cycle duration is extended to 30 minutes, a substantial increase from the NEDC’s 20 minutes. The distance covered in the WLTP test is also doubled, from 11 km to 23.25 km, providing a more comprehensive evaluation.
The WLTP test is structured into four parts based on speed ranges: Low (up to 56.5 km/h), Medium (up to 76.6 km/h), High (up to 97.4 km/h), and Extra-high (up to 131.3 km/h). These segments simulate a variety of driving environments, including urban, suburban, extra-urban roads, and motorways. Furthermore, the WLTP methodology accounts for all vehicle options that affect aerodynamics, rolling resistance, and vehicle mass. This comprehensive approach ensures that the resulting CO2 values accurately reflect the specific characteristics of each individual vehicle configuration. This level of detail is increasingly important as manufacturers produce a wider array of vehicle variants, including electric models with varying battery sizes and performance options, such as the highly anticipated electric Ferrari. The shift to WLTP represents a significant step towards more accurate and relevant vehicle testing, providing consumers with better information and pushing manufacturers to develop more efficient and cleaner vehicles across the board, from standard models to high-performance electric cars.
