The Development and Application of an Environmental Rating Tool to Stimulate the Use of Cleaner Road Vehicles

Abstract: - The focus of this paper is a new and applicable environmental rating tool, called Ecoscore. This environmental impact methodology was developed for the Flemish government (Belgium) as a policy tool and to stimulate the use of cleaner road vehicles. The Ecoscore is based on a well-to-wheel approach and integrates different aspects of the environmental impact of cars into a single indicator. This methodology allows comparing vehicles with different fuels (petrol, diesel, LPG, CNG etc.) or vehicles with different drive trains (internal combustion, battery or hybrid electric etc.). The Ecoscore methodology combines various damage categories like: global warming, human health impairing effects and harmful effects on ecosystems and is based on the level of emissions into the air of several harmful pollutants. Further, this methodology is not only applicable on passenger but also on heavy duty vehicles (trucks, buses etc.), alternative vehicles and even on two-wheelers. The applicability of the Ecoscore methodology is demonstrated by comparing and ranking a selection of old and new passenger vehicles (both conventional cars and alternative cars) and a set of urban buses as well. Also, conventional and alternative vehicles are compared. Finally, the evolution in time of the environmental performance of vehicles due to the more stringent directives concerning type-approval is evaluated. It can be concluded that the Ecoscore enables a transparent assessment of the impact on the environment of individual road vehicles and allows a ranking of different vehicles and technologies.