Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1222Show full title

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1222

of 24 August 2020

on the approval of efficient vehicle exterior lighting using light emitting diodes as an innovative technology for reducing CO₂ emissions from internal combustion engine powered light commercial vehicles with regard to NEDC conditions pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 setting CO₂ emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 443/2009 and (EU) No 510/2011(1), and in particular Article 11(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 19 December 2019, the manufacturers Toyota Motor Europe, Opel Automobile GmbH–PSA, FCA Italy S.p.A., Automobiles Citroën, Automobiles Peugeot, PSA Automobiles SA, Audi AG, Ford-Werke GmbH, Jaguar Land Rover Ltd., Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH, Škoda Auto a.s., BMW AG, Renault SA, Honda Motor Europe Ltd, Volkswagen AG and Volkswagen AG Nutzfahrzeuge submitted a joint application (‘the application’) for the approval, in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2019/631, of efficient vehicle exterior lighting using light emitting diodes (‘efficient exterior LED light’) as an innovative technology for reducing CO₂ emissions from internal combustion engine powered light commercial vehicles capable of running on petrol, diesel and certain alternative fuels.

(2) The application has been assessed in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2019/631, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 427/2014(2) as well as with the Technical Guidelines for the preparation of applications for the approval of innovative technologies pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council(3) (July 2018 version)(4). In accordance with Article 11(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/631, the application was accompanied by a verification report undertaken by an independent and certified body.

(3) The application refers to CO₂ emission savings that cannot be demonstrated by measurements performed in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle (‘NEDC test’) set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008(5).

(4) The use of light emitting diodes for improving the efficiency of exterior vehicle lighting has already been approved for certain exterior lights of passenger cars by Commission Implementing Decisions 2014/128/EU(6), (EU) 2015/206(7), (EU) 2016/160(8) and (EU) 2016/587(9) (jointly referred to as ‘past approval Implementing Decisions’) as an innovative technology capable of reducing CO₂ emissions in a way that is not covered by the measurements performed as part of the NEDC test.

(5) Based on the experience gained from the assessment of the applications in the framework of the past approval Implementing Decisions as well as on the reports and information provided with the application, it has been satisfactorily and conclusively demonstrated that an efficient exterior LED light or appropriate combinations thereof meet the eligibility criteria referred to in Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2019/631 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 427/2014 and provide a reduction in CO₂ emissions of at least 1 g CO₂/km as compared to the same set of baseline exterior lights.

(6) In addition to the exterior vehicle lighting for which the use of efficient LED lights has already been approved in the past approval Implementing Decisions, the application also refers to the use of efficient exterior LED lights in cornering, static bending, end-outline marker and side marker lights. As those lights are not turned on during the measurements performed as part of the NEDC test, it is appropriate to approve the use of efficient exterior LED lights also in those lights.

(7) The application sets out a methodology for determining the CO₂ savings from the use of efficient exterior LED lights in a range of vehicle lights for use in light commercial vehicles powered by internal combustion engines capable of running on petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or E85.

(8) In view of the limited availability of E85 on the Union market as a whole, it is not considered justified to distinguish this fuel from petrol for the purpose of the testing methodology.

(9) The applicants have provided studies supporting that the usage patterns of light commercial vehicles and those of passenger cars, with regard to the use of exterior vehicle lighting, are sufficiently similar to allow the same methodology to be applied for light commercial vehicles as the one set out in the past Implementing Decisions.

(10) However, with regard to the cornering lamps, the static bending lamps, end-outline marker lights and side marker lights, which have not been covered by the past Implementing Decisions, the applicants have proposed to include specific usage factors and power consumption values in the testing methodology. As the usage factors and power consumption values proposed by the applicants for those lights result in values that can be considered conservative, it is appropriate to add those factors and values to the testing methodology.

(11) The methodology should also be complemented to ensure that the presence of adaptive front lighting systems (AFS) used in low beam lights can be taken into account.

(12) Taking into account those additions, the testing methodology should be considered appropriate for determining the CO₂ savings from the use of the innovative technology in light commercial vehicles.

(13) Manufacturers should have the possibility to apply to a type-approval authority for the certification of CO₂ savings from the use of efficient exterior LED lights where the conditions laid down in this Decision are met. Manufacturers should for that purpose ensure that the application for certification is accompanied by a verification report from an independent and certified body confirming that the innovative technology complies with the conditions laid down in this Decision and that the savings have been determined in accordance with the testing methodology set out in the Annex of this Decision.

(14) In order to facilitate a wider deployment of the innovative technology in new vehicles, a manufacturer should also have the possibility to submit a single application for the certification of the CO₂ savings from several efficient exterior LED lights by a single certification application. It is, however, appropriate to ensure that where this possibility is used a mechanism is applied that incentivises the deployment of only those efficient exterior LED lights that offer the highest efficiency.

(15) It is the responsibility of the type-approval authority to verify thoroughly that the conditions for certifying the CO₂ savings from the use of an innovative technology as specified in this Decision are met. Where the certification is granted, the responsible type-approval authority should ensure that all elements considered for the certification are recorded in a test report and kept together with the verification report and that this information is made available to the Commission on request.

(16) For the purpose of determining the general eco-innovation code to be used in the relevant type-approval documents in accordance with Annexes I, VIII and IX to Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(10), it is necessary to attribute an individual code to the innovative technology.

(17) From 2021, manufacturers’ compliance with their specific CO₂ emission targets is to be established on the basis of the CO₂ emissions determined in accordance with the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) set out in Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151(11). CO₂ savings from the innovative technology certified by reference to this Decision may therefore be taken into account for the calculation of manufacturers’ average specific CO₂ emissions only for the calendar year 2020,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

OJ L 111, 25.4.2019, p. 13.

(2)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 427/2014 of 25 April 2014 establishing a procedure for the approval and certification of innovative technologies for reducing CO₂ emissions from light commercial vehicles pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 510/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 125, 26.4.2014, p. 57).

(3)

Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community’s integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles (OJ L 140, 5.6.2009, p. 1).

(4)

https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/a19b42c8-8e87-4b24-a78b-9b70760f82a9/July%202018%20Technical%20Guidelines.pdf

(5)

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 (OJ L 199, 28.7.2008, p. 1).

(6)

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/128/EU of 10 March 2014 on the approval of the light emitting diodes low beam module ‘E-Light’ as an innovative technology for reducing CO₂ emissions from passenger cars pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 70, 11.3.2014, p. 30).

(7)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/206 of 9 February 2015 on the approval of the Daimler AG efficient exterior lighting using light emitting diodes as an innovative technology for reducing CO₂ emissions from passenger cars pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 33, 10.2.2015, p. 52).

(8)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/160 of 5 February 2016 on the approval of the Toyota Motor Europe efficient exterior lighting using light emitting diodes as an innovative technology for reducing CO₂ emissions from passenger cars pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 31, 6.2.2016, p. 70).

(9)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/587 of 14 April 2016 on the approval of the technology used in efficient vehicle exterior lighting using light emitting diodes as an innovative technology for reducing CO₂ emissions from passenger cars pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 101, 16.4.2016, p. 17).

(10)

Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and 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) (OJ L 263, 9.10.2007, p. 1).

(11)

Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 of 1 June 2017 supplementing 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, amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 (OJ L 175, 7.7.2017, p. 1).