The European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (ACEA) has welcomed the adoption of the European Parliament’s regulation on reducing noise emissions from commercial vehicles and cars over the next 12 years.
The new legislation will see emission targets phased in by 1 July 2016, 2020 and 2024 that will see the most powerful trucks reducing their noise outputs from 81 decibels to 79 decibels.
Other commercial vehicles will be given a margin of between one and nine decibels over the new car limit of 68 decibels, depending on the power of the vehicle.
The European Parliament recently voted that all new types of vehicles registered after July 2016 will have to meet new regulations. Vans will have to produce two decibels less than their current level, and trucks one decibel less.
By the second and third phase in 2020 and 2024, this legislation will apply to all new vehicles on the road, as noise emission targets become more stringent.
Erik Jonnaert, ACEA Secretary, said, “These new noise limits are very ambitious, but the industry is committed to reaching them in order to ensure the health and safety of European consumers.
“To achieve these reduced noise levels, various sectors will need to work together, including with infrastructure providers and tyre manufacturers, as non-vehicle factors are a significant cause of road noise.”
The EU Parliament feels these new noise emission targets will benefit everybody, and believes more than €87 billion in health-related expenditure every year if this regulation is met.
There is an acceptance that this won’t be easy to achieve and that a number of factors will come in to play to meet these targets over the next 12 years. The EU Parliament has highlighted that greater efficiencies can be created in vehicle engines and powertrains to reduce noise, but also points to better road surfaces and tyres playing a large role as well.
