Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/759225
I DA U N I V E R S A L N ove m b e r - D e ce m b e r 2 0 1 6 66 T here is one focus point for all engine manufac- turers in Europe and the rest of the world: to ensure they can produce and sell engines that meet the latest standard emissions regulations for the markets in which they sell. In 2019, new emissions standards are set to come into force in Europe, in the shape of Stage V, superseding the current Stage IV standards. With three years to go until these standards become active, the European Parliament has announced it has adopted a fi nal agreement on regulations which tighten emissions limits for particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), which relate to Stage V. A compromise agreement was approved by Member States' representatives and the European Parliament's Environment Committee in May. Following the council's adoption, a publication of the Regulation is expected to follow. Supplementary legislation, in the form of delegated and imple- menting acts, is also being fi nalized. This will include technical requirements and administrative provi- sions, and is expected to be adopted before the end of the year. The regulations include an extension of the general transition scheme by six months to a total of 24 months, designed to give European machine manufacturers suffi cient time to re-design their fl eets to comply with the new requirements. Under the Commission's original proposals, manufacturers were given a 12-month transition period after the regulations had come into force to adapt their machines to Stage V engines, plus a six-month sell-off period. Now, following so-called "trilog" meetings in May, involving representatives from the both the European Council and relevant European Parliament committees, all manufacturers have been granted an 18-month transition period, with mobile crane manufacturers an additional 12 months on top of that. The additional six-month sell-off period remains unchanged for all types of products. Reportedly, NRMM engines account for about 15 percent of all NOx and five percent of PM emissions in the EU. Lead MEP Elisabetta Gardini, whose report was approved by 623 votes to 57, with 27 absten- tions, said, "We managed to reach a very positive final agreement – a really important balance between environmental protection and the competitiveness of European enterprises. We have tightened the limits proposed by the European Commis- sion even further for many engines' power ranges, but we kept the approach reason- able enough so that the industry can comply with the new requirements in a short time – and this was the most important goal." Further discus- sions about potential changes may occur over the next three years by the powers that be, but manufacturers have a clear task when it comes to making sure their engines are ready for the new standards. Rolls-Royce, for one, has launched its new MTU Stage V engine this year. The MTU Series 1000 to 1500 is being developed further by MTU and Daimler, based on Daimler commercial vehicle engines, to meet Stage V regulations. MTU's new Series 1000 to 1500 engines will be available in the 100 to 480kW power range