New Scientific Publication Highlights the Ongoing Threat of Excess Vehicle Emissions
CITA is pleased to announce the publication of the article “Excess Pollution from Vehicles - A Review and Outlook on Emission Controls, Testing, Malfunctions, Tampering, and Cheating” in the peer-reviewed journal Sustainability, published by MDPI.
This comprehensive review, co-authored by Mr. Pascal Buekenhoudt, CITA Vice President – Technical Affairs, appears as part of the Special Issue Optimising Air Quality and Health Benefits of Transport Decarbonisation and is available online.
The publication explores the enduring relevance of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) and their environmental impact, emphasizing that ICEVs will remain dominant in many global regions well beyond 2050. It highlights four critical issues hindering emission reduction goals:
- Cheating by manufacturers (e.g., defeat devices)
- Tampering by vehicle owners
- Malfunctioning emission controls
- Inadequate in-service emission testing programs
Drawing from 228 sources, the study stresses the importance of robust and modernized in-service testing (such as Periodic Test and Repair programs), targeted detection of high emitters, and the enforcement of regulations that minimize manipulation and ensure real-world compliance. Among its findings:
- Emission control deactivation (especially in diesel vehicles) can increase pollutants by factors of 3 to 100.
- A small percentage of vehicles causes a disproportionate amount of excess pollution.
- Periodic Test and Repair (PTR) programs can reduce fleet-wide emissions by up to 15%, but effectiveness varies greatly depending on design and enforcement.
This article calls for updated regulatory approaches, better emission monitoring tools (e.g., remote sensing), and enhanced inspection protocols to prevent tampering and uphold air quality standards - aligning strongly with CITA’s mission to ensure road safety and environmental integrity through effective vehicle inspection systems.
Sustainability is an international, open-access journal published semimonthly by MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly publishing based in Switzerland.
For professionals, regulators, and stakeholders involved in emissions control and vehicle inspection, this publication offers valuable insights into future challenges and opportunities.