EN Official Journal of the European Union L 284/36

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 25 October 2013

on the approval of the Bosch system for navigation-based preconditioning of the battery state of charge for hybrid vehicles as an innovative technology for reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2013/529/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 setting emissions performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community’s integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles (1), and in particular Article 12(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The supplier Robert Bosch Car Multimedia GmbH (the ‘Applicant’) submitted an application for the approval of a system for navigation-based preconditioning of the battery state of charge for hybrid vehicles as an innovative technology on 29 January 2013. The completeness of the application was assessed in accordance with Article 4 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011 (2). The application was found to be complete and the period granted to the Commission for its assessment of the application therefore started on the day after the receipt of the application, i.e. 30 January 2013.

(2) The application has been assessed in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 443/2009, Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011 and the Technical Guidelines for the preparation of applications for the approval of innovative technologies pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 (the Technical Guidelines) (3).

(3) The application refers to a system for controlling the state of charge of a battery in a hybrid electric vehicle through a navigation system that continuously monitors the geospatial positioning of the vehicle and provides information on the slope profile of the driving route in order to estimate recuperation potentials on the route and to adapt the state of charge so that maximal energy utilisation and recuperation is realised. More precisely, when a vehicle goes uphill the electricity from the battery may be used to the maximum extent possible, thus achieving a higher degree of battery electricity utilisation compared to a vehicle with a conventional state of battery charge strategy. When the vehicle goes downhill the energy is used to charge the battery. In order to be eligible as an eco-innovation the system should be permanently active as part of the powertrain operating strategy.

(4) The Commission finds that the information provided in the application demonstrates that the conditions and criteria referred to in Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 and in Articles 2 and 4 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011 have been met.

(5) The Applicant has demonstrated that the market penetration in 2009 of technologies of the kind described in the application did not exceed the threshold specified in Article 2(2)(a) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011. This claim is also supported by the accompanying verification report. On that basis, the Commission finds that the system for navigation-based preconditioning of the battery state of charge for hybrid vehicles provided by the Applicant should be considered meeting the eligibility criterion set out in Article 2(2)(a) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011.

(6) In order to determine the CO2 savings that the innovative technology will deliver when fitted to a vehicle, it is necessary to define the baseline vehicle against which the efficiency of the vehicle equipped with the innovative technology should be compared as provided for in Articles 5 and 8 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011. The Commission finds that the baseline vehicle should be identical to the eco-innovation vehicle without the innovative technology activated.

(7) The Applicant has provided a comprehensive methodology for testing the CO2 reductions. In order to demonstrate the CO2 saving effect of the technology, a testing methodology has been defined that reflects both speed and road slope profiles that are characteristic of European driving patterns and itineraries. The Applicant has derived the road slope profiles from information gathered from extensive real life test tracks and road slope data from across the EU. In order to provide the required representativeness, the road slope profiles have been paired with speed profiles that are close to the NEDC speed profile. For the lower speeds there are differences, but these lead to conservative values for the CO2 emissions benefits of the innovative technology. The reference test cycle should be used for a set of roller dynamometer tests with activation and deactivation of the innovative technology. The Applicant has also calculated and demonstrated the temporal share of the technology usage in normal operation conditions (Usage Factor). The Commission finds that the test methodology and the reference test cycle provided by the Applicant is capable of demonstrating in a realistic manner the CO2 emissions benefits of the innovative technology with strong statistical significance in accordance with Article 6 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011.

(8) The Commission finds that the Applicant has demonstrated satisfactorily that the emission reduction achieved by the innovative technology is at least 1 g CO2/km for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV/PHEVs) as defined in Article 2(16) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 (4) with a mass in running order of 1 650 kg or more. For vehicles with a mass in running order below 1 650 kg, it has not been demonstrated that the savings are sufficiently high to meet the 1g CO2/km threshold.

(9) Since the CO2 saving effects of the technology in question cannot be determined using the CO2 emissions type approval test referred to in Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) and Regulation (EC) No 692/2008, the Commission is satisfied that the technology is not covered by the standard test cycle in accordance with Article 12(2)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 443/2009.

(10) The Commission finds that the verification report has been prepared by TÜV SÜd Automotive GmbH which is an independent and certified body and that the report supports the findings set out in the application.

(11) Against that background, the Commission finds that no objections should be raised as regards the approval of the innovative technology in question.

(12) Any manufacturer wishing to benefit from a reduction of its average specific CO2 emissions for the purpose of meeting its specific emissions target by means of the CO2 savings from the use of the innovative technology approved by this Decision, should in accordance with Article 11(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011, refer to this Decision in its application for an EC type-approval certificate for the vehicles concerned,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. The use of the Bosch system for navigation-based preconditioning of the battery state of charge for hybrid vehicles is approved as an innovative technology within the meaning of Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 for the use on M1 hybrid electric vehicles with a mass in running order of 1 650 kg or more.

2. The CO2 emissions reduction from the use of the Bosch system for navigation-based preconditioning of battery state of charge for hybrid vehicles referred to in paragraph 1 shall be determined using the methodology set out in the Annex.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 25 October 2013. For the Commission The President José Manuel BARROSO

(1) OJ L 140, 5.6.2009, p. 1.

(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011 of 25 July 2011 establishing a procedure for the approval and certification of innovative technologies for reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 194, 26.7.2011, p. 19).

(3) http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehicles/cars/docs/guidelines_en.pdf

(4) Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 of 18 July 2008 of implementing and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (euro 5 and euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information (OJ L 199, 28.7.2008, p. 1).

(5) Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information (OJ L 171, 29.6.2007, p. 1).