New Technical Inspection Measure in Spain

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

Road transportation is responsible for approximately one-fifth of CO2 emissions in the European Union.

In addition to CO2, internal-combustion 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.

Toward regulating the amount of pollutant particles emitted by vehicles

Currently, vehicle inspections only measure the smoke opacity of diesel vehicles and the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by gasoline-powered cars.

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

Consequently, vehicle inspection centers, in addition to ensuring that vehicles on the road meet minimum safety requirements, will also be responsible for protecting the environment by monitoring pollution from fine particulate matter in exhaust emissions.

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

To carry it out, vehicle inspection centers will need to acquire a specific device, similar to those already in use in other European countries.

The test will be similar to the one currently performed with an opacimeter; that is, 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 industry standard in particle measurement

Certified by NMI, METAS, and PTB, the Capelec CAP3070 particle analyzer has already proven its effectiveness and is now widely favored by technical inspection professionals.

↦ Proven equipment

↦ Accurate and fast measurement

↦ Low maintenance

↦ High-precision ExtDC technology

↦ Easy to use

↦ Cost-effective and durable

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