Everything you need to know about WLTP

If you are in the market to buy a car at the moment, you may have noticed that the WLTP standard is featured somewhere in the small print. The WLTP is essentially a testing procedure that is implemented to determine the CO2 emissions and real-world fuel economy of a vehicle.Below, we will explain everything you need to know about WLTP so that you can get a better understanding of what it is and the benefits that are associated with them.

What is WLTP and how does it work?

WLTP stands for the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure. It is a test that was created with the aim of being utilised as a global test cycle across various world regions, so CO2 emissions, fuel consumption values, and pollutants would be comparable around the world. In basic terms, it will determine the fuel efficiency rating for all hybrid, electric, diesel, and petrol vehicles. These are the figures that you will see online and in brochures when buying a vehicle.

Nevertheless, while there is a common worldwide ‘core’ as part of the WLTP, the EU and other regions need to apply the test in various ways depending on the road traffic laws and requirements.

Old and New WLTP test

It is important to distinguish between the old test and the new WLTP test. The old lab test was known as the New European Driving Cycle, abbreviated to NEDC. This was created in the 1980s. However, as driving conditions have changed and technology has progressed, the test ended up being outdated. This is why a new test was created; the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).

The WLTP is modernised and it better represents everyday driving profiles. This is because real-driving data that has been gathered from around the world has been used to develop WLTP. On the flip side, the old NEDC test determined test values based on a theoretical driving profile.

When did the new WLTP come into place?

The WLTP was first introduced in 2017 to replace the previous NEDC, which has been in play since the 1980s. However, as mentioned above, it had come under a lot of criticism for being unreliable. WLTP became mandatory from the 1st of September in 2018 for measuring fuel economy and CO2 emissions on all new vehicles in the EU.

In the United Kingdom, it was on the 1st of January in 2019 that the WLTP fuel economy values were brought into play. Nevertheless, CO2 figures were not disclosed until the 1st of April of 2020 to tally with the taxation changes.

What is the purpose of a WLTP test?

Many years ago, when it came to vehicle manufacturing, pollutants were an afterthought. Performance always came first. Nevertheless, as there were changes to legislation, mindsets started to change. We have seen that some higher polluting vehicles have been banned from city centres and are subject to higher road tax bills. Because of this, vehicle emissions are now a critical consideration for both manufacturers and buyers. It was imperative that there was some type of realistic test that would provide an accurate and reliable picture regarding the emissions vehicles emit. This is why the WLTP test was created.

What are the benefits of a WLTP test?

There are a lot of different benefits that you can expect with WLTP, and so it is not difficult to see why this was implemented over NEDC.

Much more accurate results

The WLTP introduces much more realistic testing conditions. Because of this, there is a much more accurate basis for calculating the fuel emissions and consumption of a vehicle. This will make certain that the lab measurements offer a better reflection of the on-road performance of the vehicle.

How the WLTP implements much more realistic testing conditions is by including all of the following:

• Enables worst-case and best-case values based on customer information, reflecting the options that are available for smaller car models.
• Stricter car measurement and set-up conditions.
• Optional equipment is considered, with fuel consumption and CO2 values provided for individual cars as constructed.
• Shorter stops
• More representative and dynamic decelerations and accelerations.
• Higher maximum and average drive power.
• Higher maximum and average speeds.
• Most realistic ambient temperatures, which are closer to the average in Europe.
• Longer testing distances.
• An improved range of driving situations, including the motorway, main roads, suburban, and urban driving.
• More realistic driving behaviour.

You will get a better understanding of car performance

Another benefit of WLTP is that you are going to get a much better understanding of how your car performs in different conditions. However, a lot of people have vehicles, but they do not all do the same sort of journeys. Some people use their car as a run around to get to and from work every day. Other people take long-distance journeys. Therefore, it is important to have an understanding of how your vehicle is going to perform in conditions that you are most likely to experience, and this is what WLTP provides.