New GTR on electronic OBD systems for heavy duty vehicles

Publication date: 16 November 2006

To better measure the emissions of heavy duty vehicles such as trucks and buses a new worldwide On-Board Diagnostic System was approved yesterday in the UN/ECE organisation that deals with harmonising standards on a global scale. On-board diagnostics (OBD) are electronic systems which monitor the emissions performance of vehicles, including special warning signals. These systems are required by regulators around the world to ensure that vehicles continue to have good in-use emissions performance and to alert the driver to any malfunction. A new Global Technical Regulation (GTR) sets out On-Board Diagnostic performance requirements to which engine manufacturers must comply when developing new engines.

Commenting on the On-Board Diagnostic regulation, Vice-President Verheugen of the European Commission, responsible for enterprise and industry, said: “I am very pleased that this Global Technical Regulation has been adopted because it will contribute to the improvement of the environment by allowing faulty components or systems to be quickly identified and repaired. This is good for international trade and the industry that now can compete on a worldwide scale.”

The GTR specifies a basic set of demonstration requirements for manufacturers so that compliance with emissions legislation can be demonstrated in a consistent manner. Also included are requirements to standardize the communication of on-board information to off-board devices, so as to assist in maintenance of the increasingly complex modern diesel engines. These communication protocols will also facilitate the future use of On Board Diagnostic systems for roadworthiness purposes for heavy-duty vehicles.

Of particular importance (with respect to the use of On-Board Diagnostic systems as a roadworthiness indicator) is the introduction of a malfunction warning signal on the dashboard (malfunction indicator). This regulation requires the use of a dedicated warning system to indicate a malfunction in the engine or emissions control system that results in an increase in emissions. Upon malfunction detection, a malfunction code is stored in the memory of the system allowing vehicle operators, maintenance staff, inspectors and enforcement authorities to review the performance of vehicles and make informed decisions about the roadworthiness of the vehicle.

OBD is likely to become increasingly important in future roadworthiness/inspection and maintenance procedures and the regulation reflects this expectation. It requires standardised On-Board Diagnostic data to be accessible from an access port. Telematic functions which allow wireless communication of the data are seen as increasingly important. This is why the Regulation relies on the work of the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) which will further develop this aspect.

For more information:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/unece/gtr.htm