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Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 CHAPTER III — SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS

Article 18–Article 24 · 7 articles

Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗

General substantive requirements

Article 18

1.   L-category vehicles and systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles shall comply with the requirements listed in Annexes II to VIII applicable to the relevant vehicle (sub-)categories. 2.   L-category vehicles or their systems, components or separate technical units, whose electromagnetic compatibility is covered by the delegated acts referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article regarding vehicle construction and the implementing acts adopted pursuant to this Regulation, shall not be subject to Directive 2004/108/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility  ( 26 ) . 3.   In order to complete the L-category vehicle type-approval requirements laid down in this Regulation, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 75 concerning the detailed technical requirements and test procedures as summarised in Annex II (A), (B) and (C), thereby ensuring a high level of safety and environmental protection as defined in the relevant provisions of this Regulation. The first such delegated acts shall be adopted by 31 December 2014.

Prohibition of defeat devices

Article 19

The use of defeat devices that reduce the effectiveness of safety, electromagnetic compatibility, the on-board diagnostics system, sound abatement or pollutant emission abatement systems shall be prohibited. An element of design shall not be considered a defeat device if any of the following conditions is met: (a) the need for the device is justified in terms of protecting the engine against damage or accident and ensuring safe operation of the vehicle; (b) the device does not function beyond the requirements of engine starting; (c) the operating conditions are included to a substantial extent in the test procedures for verifying if the vehicle complies with this Regulation and with the delegated and implementing acts adopted pursuant to this Regulation.

Measures for manufacturers regarding modifications to the powertrain of vehicles

Article 20

1.   Vehicle manufacturers shall equip L-category vehicles with the exception of subcategories L3e-A3 and L4e-A3, with designated features to prevent tampering of a vehicle’s powertrain, by means of a series of technical requirements and specifications with the aim: (a) to prevent modifications that may prejudice safety, in particular by increasing vehicle performance through tampering with the powertrain in order to increase the maximum torque and/or power and/or maximum design vehicle speed which have been duly established during the type-approval procedure as followed by the manufacturer of the vehicle; and/or (b) to prevent damage to the environment. 2.   The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 75 concerning the specific requirements regarding the measures referred to in paragraph 1 and in order to facilitate compliance with paragraph 4. The first such delegated acts shall be adopted by 31 December 2014. 3.   After a modification of the powertrain, a vehicle shall comply with the technical requirements of the initial vehicle category and subcategory, or, if applicable, the new vehicle category and subcategory, which were in force when the original vehicle was placed on the market, registered or entered into service, including the latest amendments to the requirements. Where the vehicle manufacturer designs the powertrain of a vehicle type in such a way as to allow for its modification so that a vehicle no longer conforms to the approved type, but would correspond to an additional variant or version, the vehicle manufacturer shall include the relevant information for each variant or version so created in the application and each variant or version shall be explicitly type-approved. If the modified vehicle falls into a new category or subcategory, application shall be made for a new type-approval. 4.   Without prejudice to paragraph 1, in order to avoid modifications or adjustments with adverse effects on the functional safety or on the environmental performance of the vehicle, the manufacturer shall endeavour, through the use of best engineering practice, to prevent such modifications or adjustments from being technically possible, unless such modifications or adjustments are explicitly declared and contained in the information folder and thus covered by the type-approval.

General requirements of on-board diagnostic systems

Article 21

1.   L-category vehicles shall be equipped with an OBD system which complies with the functional requirements and test procedures as laid down in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 5 and as from the application dates as set out in Annex IV. 2.   From the dates set out in point 1.8.1 of Annex IV, vehicle (sub-)categories L3e, L4e, L5e-A, L6e-A and L7e-A shall be equipped with an OBD stage I system which monitors for any electric circuit and electronics failure of the emission control system and reports those failures which result in the emission thresholds as laid down in Annex VI (B1) being exceeded. 3.   From the dates set out in point 1.8.2 of Annex IV, vehicle (sub-)categories L3e to L7e shall be equipped with an OBD stage I system which monitors for any electric circuit and electronics failure of the emission control system and which is triggered when the emission thresholds as laid down in Annex VI (B2) are being exceeded. OBD stage I systems for these vehicle (sub-)categories shall also report the triggering of any operating mode which significantly reduces engine torque. 4.   From the dates set out in point 1.8.3 of Annex IV and subject to Article 23(5), vehicle (sub-)categories L3e, L5e-A L6e-A and L7e-A shall in addition be equipped with an OBD stage II system which monitors and reports emission control system failures and degradation which results in the OBD emission thresholds as laid down in Annex VI (B2) being exceeded. 5.   In order to harmonise the OBD system reporting of functional safety or emission control system faults and facilitate effective and efficient repair of a vehicle, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 75 concerning the detailed technical requirements related to on-board diagnostics, including functional OBD requirements and test procedures for the subjects listed in paragraphs 1 to 4 and as referred to in Annex II (C) 11 and test type VIII referred to in Annex V.

Requirements for the functional safety of vehicles

Article 22

1.   Manufacturers shall ensure that vehicles are designed, constructed and assembled so as to minimise the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants and to other road users. 2.   The manufacturer shall ensure that the functional safety of the vehicle shall endure throughout the normal life of the vehicle if used under normal conditions and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. The manufacturer shall provide a statement in the information folder confirming that the endurance of the systems, parts and equipment critical for functional safety is ensured through appropriate testing and use of good engineering practice. 3.   Manufacturers shall ensure that vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units comply with the relevant requirements set out in Annexes II and VIII and comply with the test procedures and performance requirements as laid down in a delegated act adopted pursuant to paragraph 5. 4.   Components of vehicles, whose hazards of an electrical nature are covered by the delegated or implementing acts adopted pursuant to this Regulation, shall not be subject to Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits  ( 27 ) . 5.   In order to ensure that a high level of functional safety is attained, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 75 on the specific requirements listed in Annex II (B) regarding the functional safety of vehicles and where applicable, base itself on the enhanced functional safety requirements laid down in Annex VIII. The first such delegated acts shall be adopted by 31 December 2014. 6.   The Commission shall adopt in a second step by 31 December 2020 a delegated act in accordance with Article 75, in order to harmonise the normal life requirements and tests to ensure vehicle structure integrity as listed in Annex II (B) 17. 7.   The Commission may adopt implementing acts in order to lay down a template for the manufacturer’s statement. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 73(2).

Requirements for environmental performance

Article 23

1.   Manufacturers shall ensure that vehicles are designed, constructed and assembled so as to minimise the impact on the environment. Manufacturers shall ensure that type-approved vehicles meet the environmental performance requirements as set out in Annexes II, V and VI and within the durability mileage as set out in Annex VII. 2.   Manufacturers shall ensure that vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units comply with the test procedures and test requirements as set out in Annex V within the application dates set out in Annex IV to be laid down in a delegated act adopted pursuant to paragraph 12 of this Article. 3.   Manufacturers shall ensure that type-approval requirements for verifying durability requirements are met. At the choice of the manufacturer one of the following durability test procedures shall be used to provide evidence to the approval authority that the environmental performance of a type-approved vehicle is durable: (a) actual durability testing with full mileage accumulation: The test vehicles shall physically accumulate the full distance set out in Annex VII (A) and shall be tested in accordance with the procedure laid down in test type V as set out in the delegated act adopted pursuant to paragraph 12 of this Article. The emission test results up to and including the full distance set out in Annex VII (A) shall be lower than the environmental limits set out in Annex VI (A); (b) actual durability testing with partial mileage accumulation: The test vehicles shall physically accumulate a minimum of 50 % of the full distance set out in Annex VII (A) and shall be tested in accordance with the procedure laid down in test type V as set out in the delegated act adopted pursuant to paragraph 12 of this Article. As specified in that act, the test results shall be extrapolated up to the full distance set out in Annex VII (A). Both the test results and the extrapolated results shall be lower than the environmental limits set out in Annex VI (A); (c) mathematical durability procedure: For each emission constituent, the product of the multiplication of the deterioration factor set out in Annex VII (B) and the environmental test result of a vehicle which has accumulated more than 100 km after it was first started at the end of the production line shall be lower than the environmental limit set out in Annex VI (A). 4.   By 1 January 2016, the Commission shall carry out a comprehensive environmental effect study. The study shall evaluate the air quality and the share of pollutants contributed by L-category vehicles and shall cover the requirements of test types I, IV, V, VII and VIII listed in Annex V. It shall collate and evaluate the latest scientific data, scientific research findings, modelling and cost efficiency with a view to establishing definitive policy measures by confirmation and final establishment of the Euro 5 enforcement laid down in Annex IV and the Euro 5 environmental requirements laid down in Annexe V, in Annex VI (A2), (B2) and (C2) and in Annex VII concerning Euro 5 durability mileages and deterioration factors. 5.   Based on the findings referred to in paragraph 4, the Commission shall by 31 December 2016 present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the following: (a) the enforcement dates of the Euro 5 level referred to in Annex IV; (b) the Euro 5 emission limits referred to in Annex VI (A2) and the OBD thresholds in Annex VI (B2); (c) that all new types of vehicles in (sub-)categories L3e, L5e, L6e-A and L7e-A shall, in addition to OBD stage I, also be equipped with OBD stage II at the Euro 5 level; (d) the durability mileages for the Euro 5 level referred to in Annex VII (A) and the deterioration factors for the Euro 5 level referred to in Annex VII (B). The Commission shall make any appropriate legislative proposals in the light of that report. 6.   Basing itself on the results of the environmental effect study, the Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 75 determining which of the (sub-)categories L1e-A, L1e-B, L2e, L5e-B, L6e-B, L7e-B and L7e-C for the Euro 5 level are to be subject to SHED testing or to fuel tank and tubing permeation testing, with the test limits listed in Annex VI (C2). 7.   Manufacturers shall ensure that L- category vehicles comply with the applicable test requirements regarding environmental performance for approval and extensions as laid down in Annex V (A). 8.   With regards to test type I, the relevant emission limit for L3e-AxE (Enduro, x = 1, 2 or 3) and L3e-AxT (Trial, x = 1, 2 or 3) motorcycles shall be the sum of L 2 (THC) and L 3 (NO x ) of Annex VI (A). The emission test results (NO x  + THC) shall be smaller than or equal to this limit (L 2  + L 3 ). 9.   Vehicles of category L4e shall meet the environmental requirements laid down in Annex V for vehicles of category L3e, whereby for test types I, IV, VII and VIII of Annex V either the complete assembly of the base powered vehicle is tested with the sidecar being fitted or only the base powered vehicle without the side car being fitted as appropriate. 10.   Manufacturers shall ensure that all replacement pollution control devices placed on the market or at the entry into service in the Union, are type-approved in accordance with this Regulation. 11.   The requirements referred to in paragraphs 1 to 10 shall apply to vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units in accordance with Annex II. 12.   In order to ensure a high level of environmental protection, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 75 concerning the detailed technical specifications on environmental requirements for the subjects referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 of this Article including test procedures.

Additional environmental requirements with regards to greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption and electric energy consumption and electric range

Article 24

1.   CO 2 (carbon dioxide) emissions shall be determined in the applicable laboratory emission test cycle by the manufacturer and reported by the manufacturer to the approval authority. Fuel consumption and/or electric energy consumption and electric range shall be either calculated based on the type-approval emission laboratory test results or measured, witnessed by the technical service and reported to the approval authority. 2.   The CO 2 measurement result, the calculated or measured fuel consumption, electric energy consumption and electric range shall be included in the information folder as specified in the implementing act referred to in Article 27(4), and the relevant information shall also be indicated on the certificate of conformity. In addition to the indication on the certificate of conformity, the manufacturers shall ensure that the CO 2 emission, fuel consumption, electric energy consumption and electric range data are provided to the buyer of the vehicle at the time of purchase of a new vehicle, in a format which they consider appropriate. 3.   The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 75 concerning test type VII test procedure requirements regarding CO 2 emission measurement, fuel consumption, electric energy consumption and electric range calculation and measurement methods.

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