Data collection
This section describes how we collect the data needed to calculate the Life Cycle Impact. Two types of data are required: direct emissions during the driving phase, and indirect emissions related to fuel production and distribution on the one hand, and vehicle and battery production on the other.
Direct emissions are exhaust emissions. These are derived from the official type approval tests that a vehicle undergoes before it enters the European market. The DIV of the FPS Mobility regularly provides VITO with registration data of new and used vehicles. This dataset is supplemented with type approval emission data from the Dutch Rijksdienst voor Wegverkeer (RDW). The RDW collects this emission data for all vehicle models available in Europe.
Since March 2014, not only new vehicles (already registered with the DIV) have been included in the vehicle database, but also brand new cars. These are cars that can already be ordered but have not yet been registered. This data comes from Inmotiv, a supplier of automotive data. Type approval data is not yet available for this specific group of cars, with the exception of CO2. In order to calculate an estimated Life Cycle Impact, we use average values for the missing data, based on fuel type and Euro standard. Once the vehicle has been registered and the emission data can be collected from the RDW, the Life Cycle Impact is recalculated.
These average values based on fuel type and Euro standard (3-6) are also used for vehicles for which we do not have the necessary data to supplement with RDW type approval data.
Since March 2014, not only new vehicles (already registered with the DIV) have been included in the vehicle database, but also brand new cars. These are cars that can already be ordered but have not yet been registered. This data comes from Inmotiv, a supplier of automotive data. Type approval data is not yet available for this specific group of cars, with the exception of CO2. In order to calculate an estimated Life Cycle Impact, we use average values for the missing data, based on fuel type and Euro standard. Once the vehicle has been registered and the emission data can be collected from the RDW, the Life Cycle Impact is recalculated.
These average values based on fuel type and Euro standard (3-6) are also used for vehicles for which we do not have the necessary data to supplement with RDW type approval data.
These are emissions related to the production of the vehicle and the production and distribution of the fuel. The amount of indirect emissions depends on the vehicle weight, battery capacity, fuel type, and fuel consumption of the car. The share of recycled material in the car is also taken into account.
These emission values are taken from a life cycle inventory database, which has been adapted to the Belgian situation where necessary. This adaptation is relevant, for example, when taking into account the current and future electricity mix, the countries of origin of the batteries used in EVs, etc.
These emission values are taken from a life cycle inventory database, which has been adapted to the Belgian situation where necessary. This adaptation is relevant, for example, when taking into account the current and future electricity mix, the countries of origin of the batteries used in EVs, etc.
There is little emission data available from type approval tests for vehicles manufactured before January 1, 2002. We have therefore chosen to use assumptions with regards to the pollutant emissions of these vehicles. For all vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1998, this also applies to fuel consumption and CO2 emission data. For these vehicles, we use additional assumptions for fuel consumption and the associated CO2 emissions. The weight data is taken from DIV registration data.
If the mass of the vehicle or the capacity of the battery (in the case of PHEVs or BEVs) is missing, no Life Cycle Impact can be calculated.
When air pollutant emissions (CO, HC, NOx, and PM) are missing, we use either average values (Euro 3-6) or standard values (pre-Euro, Euro 1 & 2).
When CO2 is missing, we use standard values. These depend on the fuel type, cylinder capacity, and Euro standard. This is especially the case for older vehicles.
When air pollutant emissions (CO, HC, NOx, and PM) are missing, we use either average values (Euro 3-6) or standard values (pre-Euro, Euro 1 & 2).
When CO2 is missing, we use standard values. These depend on the fuel type, cylinder capacity, and Euro standard. This is especially the case for older vehicles.
It is best to check your car's certificate of conformity. For most cars built after 2002, this document contains all the necessary information. You can then use it to calculate the Life Cycle Impact yourself using the calculation module. For electric and plug-in hybrid cars, you will also need the ‘gross’ battery capacity (not the ‘net’ capacity). Please note that you must enter the data in the correct units in the calculation module!