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Sustainability-Oriented Assessment of Passenger Car Emissions in Relation to Euro Standards Using the ECE-15 Driving Cycle

Author

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  • Saugirdas Pukalskas

    (Department of Automobile Engineering, Faculty of Transport Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės g. 27A, 10105 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Dominik Adamaitis

    (Department of Automobile Engineering, Faculty of Transport Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės g. 27A, 10105 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Dainius Paliulis

    (Department of Environment Protection and Water Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saulėtekio al. 11, 10223 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Šarūnas Mikaliūnas

    (Department of Automobile Engineering, Faculty of Transport Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės g. 27A, 10105 Vilnius, Lithuania)

Abstract

This study introduces an original sustainability-oriented methodology for calculating pollutant emissions (g/km) based on the ECE-15 driving cycle, aimed at evaluating passenger car compliance with various Euro emission standards. Four vehicles—two diesel and two gasoline-powered—representing Euro 4 to Euro 6 categories, respectively, were tested under controlled laboratory conditions. CO, HC, NO x , and CO 2 emissions were measured and analyzed using the developed method. The Euro 4 Nissan Qashqai+2 exceeded the CO limit by 2.07 times, while NO x and HC emissions were below the threshold by 1.46 and 50%, respectively. CO 2 exceeded the limit by only 6.2%. The Euro 5 Nissan Qashqai showed extremely low CO and HC levels—33 and 333 times below the limit—but exceeded NO x by 1.32 times, with CO 2 emissions 62.8% above the target. Both Euro 6 vehicles (VW Passat) exhibited undetectable CO emissions, HC levels under 2% of the limit, and NO x reduced by 3.81 to 15 times. However, their CO 2 emissions remained elevated, at 2.9% and 51.4% above the standard, respectively. The results confirm the effectiveness of modern emission control technologies, while also highlighting that CO 2 remains a major challenge, particularly for powerful gasoline vehicles.

Suggested Citation

  • Saugirdas Pukalskas & Dominik Adamaitis & Dainius Paliulis & Šarūnas Mikaliūnas, 2025. "Sustainability-Oriented Assessment of Passenger Car Emissions in Relation to Euro Standards Using the ECE-15 Driving Cycle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6000-:d:1690960
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