More information
Description
The main objective of ELANORE project is to improve the EU Tyre Labelling procedures for rolling resistance and noise. Several investigations indicated a lack of representativeness of the given tyre label values and how the tyre behaves on real road. Within the project numerous tyres will be tested according to UN ECE Reg. 117 both for rolling resistance and tyre/road noise and the results will be compared with real road measurements performed at representative conditions. Based on the results it will be established how big is the discrepancy between the information on the labels and the actual tyre performance on the road. After this evaluation the consortium will propose improvements to the existing test procedures. It must be mentioned however, that proposed methods must not only be representative but also practical (that is acceptable for tyre manufacturers). As a result of the project and the possible implementation of its results by the ECE, consumers will have a more objective way of assessing tires and will be able to make more correct purchasing decisions. It should be emphasized that low rolling resistance of tires translates directly into the reduction of CO2 emissions, and the low noise of tires into public health in its broad sense. GUT brings to the project its world-wide unique ability to measure rolling resistance and experience in reducing tire noise. SINTEF brings its experience in tire noise testing, and EKKOM brings the technology of road noise assessment taking into account the impact of tyre noise.
Summary of project results
The Tyre Labelling Regulation provides the information on tyre parameters to end-users allowing them to make informed purchasing choices. It
is obvious that for labels to have a positive impact on customers'' decisions, they must be reliable and representative. Unfortunately, the
currently applicable procedures involve testing tyres in conditions that are far different from those actually occurring in typical road traffic.
When measuring rolling resistance according to present standards, the tyre rolls on a smooth steel drum and not on a pavement with a texture
typical of modern road technologies. Tyres, even winter tyres, are tested at a temperature of 25⁰C, which is much higher than the average
temperature in Europe or the USA. In terms of tyre noise, tyres are tested on a very quiet road surface, which is practically non-existent in the
European road network, and the inflation pressure does not correspond to the pressures recommended by vehicle manufacturers.
The aim of the ELANORE project was to identify problems related to tyre testing methodology, determine the correlation between the results
obtained in the labeling process and the results of fully representative measurements, and identify ways to improve the representativeness of
labels. The project showed that the currently used procedures result in reporting lower tyre rolling resistance and noise, and also, to some
extent, distort the tyre ranking. Incorrect values of rolling resistance coefficients are a problem for car manufacturers as they cause errors in
vehicle range predictions, which are carried out both at the design and operation stages of the vehicls (especially electric vehicles). Unfair tyre
ranking cause problems for users who buy tyres based on the information presented on the labels.
The end result of the ELANORE project are proposals for changes of test procedures. The implementation of the proposed modifications will lead
to improved vehicle range forecasting systems and will allow users to reduce energy consumption and road noise. Assuming that thanks to
correct selection of tyres, the user will reduce the rolling resistance of his vehicle by only 15% (this is the average interval between subsequent
labels, e.g. label "C" and "D"), depending on the way the car is used and the type of drive system, savings in energy consumption can range
from 4 to 8%, which on a global scale translates into millions of tons of fossil fuels.
Summary of bilateral results
The predecessor of the ELANORE project was the Polish-Norwegian project LEO, which started close cooperation between SINTEF, Norway andGUT, Poland. Thanks to the cooperation, the resources of SINTEF (especially contacts with international organizations as well as experience withpreparing ISO standards) and GUT (especially tyre testing equipment) were combined. The aim of the project was to propose changes to EUprocedures and ISO standards that would increase the credibility of labels but at the same time meet the canons of international legislation.From this point of view, the SINTEF experience was of great importance. SINTEF also has extensive experience in noise research, especially inScandinavian conditions, which was important for the work on the label determining the noise level of tyres. SINTEF does not have researchdevices for measuring rolling resistance, but GUT has such devices and thanks to this it was possible also to optimize the methods of testingrolling resistance. Thanks to the project, the cooperation between EKKOM and SINTEF has also deepened.During the preparation of the final report of the ELANORE project, a call for Polish-Swiss projects was announced. The consortium consisting ofGUT, EKKOM and the Swiss partner - G+P intend to submit an application for a project constituting a continuation of ELANORE and invite Mr.Truls Berge from SINTEF to its implementation (to the extent formally possible).