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New Nox Rating Scheme To Launch in 2016

Nov 30, 2015 emissions,


A new initiative has been announced by UK emissions measurement company Emissions Analytics, which it says will help consumers, policy makers and vehicle manufacturers better understand the real-world emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from new cars. Emissions Analytics offers on-road vehicle emissions measurement and analysis that covers the European Union and the United States.  Its subscription-access results database covers testing from 2011 onwards.

The new system is expected to launch in early 2016, after fully considering input from its advisory board. The NOx accreditation initiative will help buyers clearly identify the cars emitting the lowest quantities of harmful pollutants, allow manufacturers to demonstrate their vehicles’ clean credentials, and provide data to policymakers on progress in the drive to improve air quality. Working across the European Union, the scheme will measure the NOx performance of passenger cars in real-world driving conditions.

The accreditation scheme is intended to complement the forthcoming Real Driving Emissions regulations for new vehicle certification and is hoped to better ensure that vehicles remain compliant when driven normally on roads, thereby contributing towards real air quality improvements. It also promises to give consumers a rating that allows the comparison of the relative performance of different cars.

Building on its emissions testing of more than 1000 vehicles over the last four years, Emissions Analytics believes it is ideally positioned to launch the rating scheme. The new scheme comes at a time when there is increasing focus on emissions and air quality, following vehicle certification irregularities and legal actions against European countries for air quality violations in cities.

To ensure the most effective and robust system, the company explains that it has brought together a group of experts to provide advice and guidance, review the test and rating methodology, monitor the regulatory context, and provide input into the wider development of the scheme. This group of leading academic and industry figures includes:


Professor Helen ApSimon – Air Pollution Studies, Imperial College London, UK

Dr Adam Boeis – Department of Engineering, Cambridge University, UK

John German – Senior Fellow, International Council on Clean Transportation, USA

Dr Marc Stettler – Centre for Transport Studies, Imperial College London, UK

Professor Martin Williams – Air Quality Scientist, King’s College London, UK

The ratings will be published and publically available for all, including manufacturers, consumers, local and national governments, and fleet operators.



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