For many years, the NEDC was the standard procedure for measuring fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and exhaust emissions of vehicles in Europe. Since 2017, it has gradually been replaced by the more realistic WLTP procedure. Nevertheless, the NEDC still plays a role, for example for older vehicles or when evaluating historical data.
What is the NEDC?
The New European Driving Cycle was developed in the 1990s to determine the fuel consumption and emissions of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles under standardized laboratory conditions. The aim was to create comparative values that are comprehensible regardless of vehicle type or manufacturer.
How does the test work?
The test consists of two parts. The first part simulates a typical city drive with frequent stops and starts at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour. The second part is a cross-country drive at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. The entire test lasts around 20 minutes. A distance of around 11 kilometers is covered on a roller dynamometer.
Why is the NEDC controversial?
In everyday life, the actual consumption values often deviate significantly from the NEDC figures. One of the reasons for this is that the test does not take into account real-life conditions such as inclines, different temperatures or individual driving styles. The average speed is low and additional consumers such as air conditioning or heating are not measured. This is why the NEDC values are considered too optimistic.
NEDC compared to WLTP
The WLTP is more precise, more dynamic and more comprehensive. Some differences at a glance:
NEDC:
- Test duration: about 20 minutes
- Distance: 11 kilometers
- Maximum speed: 120 kilometers per hour
- Average speed: around 34 kilometers per hour
- Consideration of special equipment: No
WLTP
- Test duration: about 30 minutes
- Distance: 23.25 kilometers
- Maximum speed: 131 kilometers per hour
- Average speed: around 47 kilometers per hour
- Consideration of special equipment: Yes
Importance in the vehicle fleet
Even though the NEDC is no longer used for new vehicles, it is still relevant in fleet management . NEDC values are still used, particularly when evaluating lease returns or comparing older models. It is therefore important to differentiate between NEDC and WLTP in order to be able to realistically classify consumption, emissions and operating costs .
Conclusion
For decades, the NEDC was the Europe-wide standard for determining vehicle emissions and consumption data. Even though it has now been replaced by the WLTP, it remains an important reference value for historical comparisons and older vehicles. For fleet managers , it is crucial to know the differences and take them into account in evaluations.