Commission Regulation (EU) No 136/2014Show full title

Commission Regulation (EU) No 136/2014

of 11 February 2014

amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 as regards emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and Commission Regulation (EU) No 582/2011 as regards emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive)(1), and in particular Article 39(2) thereof.

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information(2), and in particular Article 5(3) thereof.

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directives 80/1269/EEC, 2005/55/EC and 2005/78/EC, and in particular Article 5(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 of 18 July 2008 implementing and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information(3) establish common technical requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles and replacement parts with regard to their emissions and lay down rules for in-service conformity, durability of pollution control devices, on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems, measurement of fuel consumption and accessibility of vehicle repair and maintenance information.

(2) Directive 2007/46/EC of 5 September 2007 establishes a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles. It sets out the format of the type-approval documents and specifies the bases for outlining engine characteristics, including values of engine power and power-related parameters.

(3) The EC type-approval number issued pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 includes alphabetical characters (Euro 5 and Euro 6 steps), which indicate the emission limit values and OBD requirements in accordance with which the approval was granted. Each step, identified by an alphabetical character, contains a mandatory implementation date for the certification of new types of vehicles and for all new vehicles, as well as a last date of registration.

(4) Vehicle manufacturers may request a type-approval of vehicles with more stringent requirements before those requirements become mandatory. New Euro 6 steps will enable certification of vehicles with lower emission levels before those emission levels enter into force.

(5) Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Directive 2007/46/EC(4), repealed Council Directive 80/1269/EEC of 16 December 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the engine power of motor vehicles(5) with effect from 31 December 2013. Therefore, it is necessary to carry over the provisions of Directive 80/1269/EEC into Regulation (EC) No 715/2007.

(6) Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Regulation (EU) No 582/2011 specify the reference fuels which should be used by vehicle manufacturers to perform emission tests in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Regulation (EC) No 595/2009. The characteristics of reference fuels reflect the characteristics of fuels most commonly used in the market at the time Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 was adopted. However, due to the increasing usage of biofuels in the market in recent years, specifications of reference fuels should be adapted to correspond to the fuels available currently and in the foreseeable future on the Union market.

(7) The reference fuels in Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Regulation (EU) No 582/2011 need to be aligned in order to harmonize procedures for light and heavy-duty vehicles and therefore reduce costs related to type-approval.

(8) Directive 2007/46/EC, Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Regulation (EU) No 582/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Technical Committee – Motor Vehicles,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

OJ L 263, 9.10.2007, p. 1.

(2)

OJ L 171, 29.6.2007, p. 1.

(3)

OJ L 199, 28.7.2008, p. 1.

(4)

OJ L 188, 18.7.2009, p. 1.

(5)

OJ L 375, 31.12.1980, p. 46.