New vehicle inspection measure in Spain

The European Commission aims to reduce the negative impact of transport on the environment and health

Road transport is responsible for around one-fifth of CO₂ emissions in the European Union.

In addition to CO₂, combustion-engine vehicles also emit other polluting particles that affect air quality and can have serious health consequences.

Furthermore, older vehicles are the most polluting, and in Spain, the average age of the vehicle fleet is over 14 years.

Towards regulating the amount of pollutant particles emitted by vehicles

Currently, the vehicle inspection only measures the smoke opacity of diesel vehicles and the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted by petrol cars.

The new vehicle inspection, already introduced in several EU countries such as Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, aims to make it compulsory to measure particulate matter from light diesel vehicles (passenger cars and vans) that meet the Euro 5F emissions standard or later, or from vehicles registered on or after 31 December 2013.

Consequently, technical inspection centres, in addition to ensuring that vehicles on the roads meet minimum safety requirements, will also be responsible for safeguarding the environment by monitoring pollution from fine particulate matter in exhaust gases.

This is a relatively simple, quick and inexpensive procedure, but also an effective one.

To carry it out, technical inspection centres will need to be equipped with a specific device, similar to those already in use in other European countries.

The test will be similar to the one currently carried out using a smoke meter, i.e. a probe will be inserted into the exhaust pipe, and the vehicle will be left idling so that the equipment can measure the gases.

The benchmark in the particle measurement market

Approved by NMI, METAS and PTB, the Capelec CAP3070 particle analyser has already proven its effectiveness and is now widely favoured by those involved in vehicle inspection.

↦ Tried-and-tested equipment

↦ Accurate and rapid measurement

↦ Low maintenance

↦ High-precision ExtDC technology

↦ Easy to use

↦ Cost-effective and durable

Further information