Intertek launches Portable Emissions Measurement System

Intertek Milton Keynes is among the first test laboratories in the UK to offer portable vehicle exhaust emission testing systems, enabling manufacturers to report “real world” driving emissions.

Intertek said its Transportation Technologies laboratory has responded swiftly to changes in European exhaust emissions legislation by launching a service to deliver accurate on-road vehicle exhaust emissions testing and analysis.

Responding to recent changes in European Type Approval legislation, Intertek now offers real world driving analysis of vehicle tailpipe emissions using its new Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS). This new equipment is vehicle mounted, thereby allowing manufacturers to report car and LCV emissions on public roads rather than in a laboratory.

ECE Regulation 83 mandates manufacturers report exhaust emissions and fuel consumption figures from real-world driving in a variety of road and traffic conditions. This legislative change comes, in part, as a response to public disquiet about the disparity between officially published laboratory testing data and real world figures on fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

As part of the testing service, Intertek is also developing driver aids and route management tools to deliver a higher percentage of valid tests.

Intertek’s Milton Keynes European Centre of Excellence for high end automotive powertrain testing and engineering services has also recently invested in low carbon vehicle, high performance electric machine and hybrid testing cells at its automotive test laboratory,  to enable its automotive customers to reach their goals on air quality emissions and CO2 reduction in their future vehicles.

UK managing director of Intertek Transportation Technologies, Tony Braddon said : “Here at Milton Keynes our staff work so closely with the cream of Britain’s automotive manufacturing industry that we can respond quickly to the specific demands imposed by legislative changes or manufacturers’ future development needs. By continuing to invest in our state-of-the-art testing facilities, we can help make sure our customers’ vehicles remain the best in the world.”

When Intertek acquired Tickford Powertrain Test Ltd in 2013, the Milton Keynes site became part of Intertek’s global Transport Technologies service with over 800 staff worldwide and facilities in the US (Detroit, Grand Rapids, San Antonio, Phoenix and Pittsfield), the UK (Milton Keynes), Germany (Kaufbeuren), Sweden (Kista), the Netherlands (Geleen), China (Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing City) and Japan (Yokohama).