EU proposes particle number limits for GDI vehicles

28 October 2011

The European Commission issued a proposal for a particle number (PN) limit for Euro 6 vehicles equipped with gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines. The proposal was presented at a meeting of the Commission’s Motor Vehicle Emissions Group (MVEG) held on October 25, 2011.

The PN limit for GDI vehicles would be phased-in in two steps:

• A limit of 6×10¹² km^-1 (ten times higher than the Euro 5b PN limit for diesel vehicles) would become effective at the Euro 6 effective date (2014.09/2015.09 for new types/all models)
• A limit of 6×10¹¹ km^-1 (equal to diesel) would become effective three years later (2017.09/2018.09 for new types/all models)

This was a second, revised proposal from the Commission. The first proposal, dated October 13, called for a more stringent PN limit (4×10¹² km^-1) in the transitional period and for a two year (rather than three) delay for the final, diesel-equivalent limit.

GDI vehicles are known to produce high levels of PN emissions. To meet the proposed PN limits, GDI engines may have to be fitted with gasoline particulate filters (GPF).

Source: MVEG