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In-use testing with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) has received attention by policy makers and industry as an effective and cost-efficient means to verify emissions of a wide range of vehicles. We provide an overview of the state-of-the-art PEMS in-use emissions testing in the current and future European emissions legislation for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles as well as non-road mobile machinery. For obtaining type approval in European Union (EU), light-duty vehicles have to comply with Euro 6 emission standards from January 2014 onward. In parallel, a new test procedure will complement standard emissions testing in the laboratory to control gaseous and particulate emissions over a wide range of real-world driving conditions. Two candidate procedures are developed at present, i.e., random cycle testing and on-road emissions testing with PEMS. Currently, key challenges are the definition of test conditions and design of a suitable method for data evaluation.

Different particulate mass (PM) portable emission measurement systems (PEMS) were evaluated in the lab with three heavy-duty diesel engines which cover a wide range of particle emission levels. For the two engines without Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) the proportional partial flow dilution systems SPC-472, OBS-TRPM, and micro-PSS measured 15% lower PM than the full dilution tunnel (CVS). The micro soot sensor (MSS), which measures soot in real time, measured 35% lower. For the DPF-equipped engine, where the emissions were in the order of 2 mg/kWh, the systems had differences from the CVS higher than 50%. For on-board testing a real-time sensor is necessary to convert the gravimetric (filter)-based PM to second-by-second mass emissions. The detection limit of the sensor, the particle property it measures (e.g., number, surface area or mass, volatiles or non-volatiles) and its calibration affect the estimated real-time mass emissions.

Fuel consumption is already one of the parameters taken into account for the final ranking of some competitions organized by the Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA). Pollutant emissions, such as CO, HC and NOx, could also be taken into consideration in the near future. In occasion of a competition organized by the FIA in the framework of the “Alternative Energies Cup” championship, several vehicles were equipped for demonstration and scientific purpose with portable emission measurement systems (PEMS) in order to measure the gaseous emissions during the competition. The competition took place at the Autodromo Nazionale of Monza on the same track used for the Formula 1 Grand Prix as well. For this competition the track was divided into three sections simulating respectively the typical speeds and driving patterns on urban roads, on extra-urban roads and on motorways.