How Fleet Managers can navigate the road from NEDC to WLTP

The NEDC or New European Driving Cycle was designed to replicate how each car was used in Europe. However, since it was designed in the 1980s, adopted in 1990, and last updated in 1997, it does not account for modern changes in car usage and technology, which is where the WLTP comes in. 

The NEDC was initially developed for petrol cars only, but it quickly became a tool used for estimating the power consumption of diesel cars, hybrids and all-electric cars too. This test relies on four urban driving cycles of 20 minutes and one driving cycle outside the city. However, it does not take into account real driving conditions or the influence of optional equipment on a car, which means that the NEDC’s fuel consumption ratings are close to impossible to achieve on the road.  

Although the WLTP tests also take place in a lab, this new procedure uses more realistic driving data, which have been collected from all around the world. It also comprises four cycles, but these are now 30 minutes long instead of 20, and each has its own imposed average speed - rated low, medium, high and extra high. The WLTP also looks at a number of driving situations, such as stopping, braking or accelerating, and considers the influence of any extra features which are added to the car. With these changes and many others coming into effect, the WLTP seeks to better align laboratory test results with the actual day-to-day use of vehicles, while at the same time taking today’s engine technology into account.

Along with the introduction of the WLTP, the EU Commission will enforce Real Driving Emissions (RDE) tests, which will come into effect from September 2019. Unlike NEDC and WLTP, the Real Driving Emissions tests will measure pollutants such as NO_x while the vehicles are driven on the road – thus demonstrating whether the results of the lab tests can be reproduced under normal conditions.

Will my fuel consumption increase?

The WLTP will result in higher g/km CO2 values compared with those of equivalent vehicles that have already been tested according to NEDC, simply because the new test is longer and more rigorous. This is especially true for cars with small-volume turbo engines that are currently popular in the fleet business, and for which the emissions are estimated to increase by up to 25 percent. The higher CO2 value does not mean that the fuel consumption has increased, but simply allows consumers to predict the actual fuel costs for a vehicle more accurately. This does mean however that many cars will no longer meet current sustainability objectives, and that fleet managers can expect higher vehicle taxes, which are based on CO₂ emissions in many countries.

In Germany, for example, the higher WLTP values will be used for calculating the tax for new vehicles registered from September 2018 onwards. Further countries are expected to follow suit shortly thereafter. France and Spain, for instance, will likely adopt WLTP from January 2019. This may end up resulting in two different tax rates applying to the same model, depending on when it was registered.

What can you do?

1. Adapt your car policy

For many employers, company cars are an important tool for attracting and motivating top employees. Fuel consumption and CO₂ values have a big impact on the vehicles employees choose to drive. With the introduction of WLTP testing, average CO₂ values are expected to rise for cars from all manufacturers. Alphabet currently expects an overall increase in WLTP CO₂ levels of up to 25 percent, which means that many models will fall out of selection, if the car policy remains unchanged.

2. Act greener

Alongside revising the policy limits, fleet managers can also update the vehicle selection to offer employees only those vehicles with the best emission performance under WLTP. Such a change should be communicated to employees with the appropriate reasoning to ensure their satisfaction and support. Climate change and environmental protection are hot topics that many employees will relate to, so this is a great opportunity for companies to gain support for CSR or environmental commitments. Fleet managers can also adjust the additional equipment available for certain cars (i.e. smaller wheels, no sunroof, etc.), as the fuel consumption and CO2 values will now also take this equipment into account.

Ultimately, the changeover to WLTP offers companies a fantastic opportunity to present themselves both internally and externally as environmentally friendly and future-oriented.

3. Increase the fleet’s electric share

Instead of relying on smaller or less equipped vehicles, fleet managers can also use the changeover to WLTP to replace some cars with combustion engines with all-electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid models. Switching to cleaner models is not only good for the environment – it can even save the company money in the long run with lower running costs for fuel and vehicle taxes than conventional cars.

Alphabet provides fleet operators with holistic support through AlphaElectric, a comprehensive approach for successfully incorporating electric and hybrid vehicles into traditional diesel and gasoline fleets. AlphaElectric’s Mobility Consulting Tool (MCT) – a software developed by Alphabet – demonstrates with clear facts and figures if and how electric cars can be integrated into the fleet, smartly and seamlessly. The recently enhanced MCT gathers real data on a company’s driving behaviour by means of GPS loggers installed in the cars. With the MCT, Alphabet can then offer transparent recommendations for suitable electric vehicle alternatives, consult on charging infrastructure, and calculate the potential decrease in CO₂.

Alphabet is here for you, just get in touch with us and let’s navigate the changeover together!