The Commission has opened a new laboratory to test fuel consumption and emissions from lorries and buses in more realistic conditions than are used in general 'type approval' tests.
The new facility, at the EU’s Joint Research Centre in Italy, will contribute to implementing the Euro VI emissions standards agreed last year, and will also help develop future emissions standards for heavy vehicles.
Environmental organisations have criticised existing vehicle tests for giving emissions readings that are much lower than the vehicles emit in real driving conditions.
Europe must stand firm over its future targets for carmakers as it cannot afford to fall further behind China.
The decision to create a Europe-wide carbon price was right but creates significant political risk. The good news is it can still be fixed.
It's about time the EU requires parts of key products to be made locally – and nowhere is this more urgent than in the battery sector.