Reducing noise pollution from cars

Dutch Ministry of Environment

January 2005

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up2

Noise=Health

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up3

Relevance of cars for environmental noise

1. Road traffic noise is very significant: 20% of EU population is

exposed to unhealthy levels.

2. Road traffic noise is dominated by cars (only at night along

large trunk roads significant contribution from Heavy Duty

Vehicles)

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up4

Noise abatement

Health ? Laws ? Levels of protection

Conventional way: barriers and insulation.

High growth of traffic ? uncontrollable rise of cost

All studies: source abatement is most effective and most cost efficient:

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up5

Source abatement

1. Lower noise cars and trucks (ECE/EU regulations)

2. Lower noise tyres (ECE/EU regulations)

3. Lower noise road surfaces (national and local programs)

1. Cars: We have celebrated the 30th anniversary of regulation

for cars and we still wait for the first results !!

2. Tyres: already ineffective regulation is coming into force

3. Road surfaces: big progress in several EU countries

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up6

Noise production of passenger carsin ’74 and in ’99.

passenger cars

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

0 20 40 60 80 100 120v [km/h]

no

ise

emis

sio

n (

dB

(A))

1974

1999

Over last 30 years no effect, even slight increase at medium speed

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up7

No result for light vehicles: why?

Trends:

• More diesel engines

• Wider tyres

• Increasing share of vans

And non-effective type testing due to:

• Liberal measuring methods;

• Liberal limits :

• not technology forcing, not even technology following

• Extensive possibilities for applying allowances

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up8

Test results light vehicles

Distribution of noise valuesOICA test program 2004 on small vehicles in EU, USA and Japan

( 173 passenger cars and delivery vans)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

Pure test results according to EC/70/157 (dB(A))

% o

f tes

ted

vehi

cles

limit for passenger cars

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up9

Test result for tyres

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up10

Expectations for near future are low

1. TYRES:

• Introduction of the already liberal tyre limits completed in

2011!!

• Foreseen tightening: insignificant

2. VEHICLES:

• No intention to bring present limits on state-of-the-art level

• Present development of vehicle approval procedure has

programmed stand-still of another 15 years

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up11

Political factors

Type approval originally serves two objectives:

1. Harmonization of product specifications to improve

international trade

2. Improving the environment by source reduction

Present situation:

1. Harmonization is the key issue resulting in non-stringent

requirements that everybody can easily fulfil;

2. No check on environmental objectives

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up12

Result:

Progress is much to weak

Society is paying the costs

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up13

Sustainable Road Transport

Urgency of environmental health problems recognized

Decisions needed on additional measures

NL Presidency paper debated in the Council (ENV)October 14, 2004

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up14

Discussion Council EnvironmentNL Presidency conclusions on noise:

Urgency: 100 mln affected by serious nuisance (EU 15)

The need for ASAP progress: broadly supported

Broad consensus for tightening limits and abolishing allowances

ASAP a new method for testing vehicles

DECISION PROCESS: INVOLVE ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL

(as is the case with gaseous emissions)

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up15

New method for type approval road vehicles

OK: new startOK: incentive for low noise tyres,

But1. a method is as good as the real limits,

2. a method is as good as the enforcement in the aftermarket (tyres/exhaust)

3. inclusion of powertrain/exhaust noise needed:(vehicle passage as single event)

January 20, 2005source abatement: let’s speed it up16

Intended policy Commissioner Verheugen (Ent)

Make life easier for industry by:

• rely on UN/ECE regulation

• withdraw EU-Directives

So:

European Parliament: not involved anymore

Council: not involved anymore

24-1-2005

The endThank you for your attention