The emergence of the European internal market will result in an increase of the road transport of goods. Truck manufacturers and governments are keenly aware of the environmental issue posed by this increase and are reviewing the actions that should be undertaken to contain the impact of commercial vehicles on the environment in terms of exhaust emissions and noise levels. Exhaust emissions and noise from commercial vehicle diesel engines are presently regulated by the Directives 88/77/EEC and 84/424/EEC. A recent Commission proposal introduces a two-step plan for a further reduction in the exhaust emission limit values to be implemented in 1992 and 1996 respectively. At the same time, truck industry, the Commission and government experts are actively pursuing the definition of possible noise levels that could still be achieved in series production vehicles.
Samenvatting