Tapak et al. Energies. 2023; 16: 6861 | Highlighted on Fuelcons
As per Regulation (EU) 2021/392, from 2021 onwards, every new passenger car registered in the EU must be equipped with an on-board fuel and/or energy consumption monitoring (OBFCM) device. The corresponding data can be sourced directly from the vehicle or acquired during maintenance and repair sessions. This study by Tapak et al. summarizes fuel consumption data obtained from OBFCMs through comprehensive field testing across all Periodic Technical Inspections (PTI) stations in the Slovak Republic from August 2022 to April 2023.
Of approximately 1 million vehicles screened, 1500 had OBFCMs but only 1100 provided consistent data. The primary aim was to compare OBFCM readings with manufacturer fuel consumption specifications. Most data came from specialized vehicles like taxis and emergency vehicles, potentially influencing driving patterns. However, all vehicles experienced genuine real-world conditions. Preliminary findings revealed a 35% fuel consumption gap, consistent with other studies. No link was found between vehicle registration year and this gap. The research leverages a feature introduced in EU cars since 2019, facilitating data collection from a diverse vehicle range under authentic conditions. The study, while insightful, calls for further research for conclusive results.