In addition to the statutory test cycle, EcoTest includes two more test cycles. It exceeds mandatory testing and offers a more precise picture of a vehicle’s environmental behaviour. Measurements are made on an engine test bench. Here, emission data is captured for the legally limited pollutants carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter and for the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2). Furthermore, fuel consumption data is derived from the emissions of carbon-based exhaust components (CO2, CO and HC).
The test cycles in detail:
The New European Driving Cycle (NEDC)
The first segment in the NEDC represents an urban cycle with stop-and-go; the second segment represents an extra-urban cycle at up to 120kph. Each vehicle is measured from a cold-crank with all energy-consuming devices, such as radio or air condition, turned off. Then the NEDC is run again with a warm engine and the air condition on to take into account one of the major energy users in a vehicle.
The ADAC Motorway Cycle
The ADAC Motorway Cycle shows whether the exhaust cleaning system operates optimally outside the parameters of the statutory tests. We look at the emissions generated when the engine is accelerated more forcefully or at full throttle with the air condition on. This cycle uses a base speed of 130kph, which is the speed limit in most European countries.
