Chile: Light-duty: Emissions

Overview

 * Standard type: Conventional emissions
 * Regulatory bodies: Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones (MTT) in cooperation with the Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (MMA)
 * Current Standards: As of 2012, Euro 5 or EPA Tier 2, Bin 5, Intermediate life
 * Applicability: Light-duty (GVWR < 2700 kg) and medium-duty (2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg) vehicles, 1994 or newer

History
Emission standards for light- and heavy-duty highway vehicles have been in place since the early 1990s. While the standards are based on US and EU emission regulations, they are not necessarily equivalent. Dual standards often exist, allowing new engines to meet either US or EU standards. No on-board diagnostic (OBD) requirements are indicated in Chile’s emission standards. Durability requirements were added in 2012.

The emission limits are based on the date that application is first made to register the vehicle in the national vehicle registry and the geographic region in which it operates. The application date for registration, as opposed to the vehicle model year, is presumably used to control emissions from imported used vehicles. To legally operate an on-road vehicle in Chile, a colored sticker must be attached to the vehicle. The color of the sticker determines the region of the country in which a vehicle may operate; rules for issuing stickers depend on the vehicle class.

Due to severe pollution problems, many vehicle emission standards for the Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM) are more stringent and/or were introduced earlier that those for the rest of the country. A decree issued in 2010 (D.S. N° 66/10) required a number of programs to be established in the Santiago Metropolitan Region by 2011 to accelerate the uptake of cleaner vehicles. These programs include the implementation of a Low Emission Zone for heavy vehicles and a voluntary truck scrappage program.

Technical Standards
The emission standards for light-duty (GVWR &lt; 2700 kg) and medium-duty (2700 &le; GVWR &lt; 3860 kg) vehicles apply to 1994 model year and newer vehicles (D.S. N&deg; 211/1991 and D.S. N&deg; 54/1994). Light-duty vehicles include passenger cars and light light-duty trucks. Medium-duty vehicles are heavy light-duty trucks.

Early emission standards for passenger cars and light trucks, which were based on US 1984 regulations, are shown below. These standards first applied in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and in the continental parts of Region V and Region VI. The test cycle was the US FTP75.

Diesel fueled vehicles
Standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles reflecting US Tier 1 and Euro 3 standards came into effect in 2005 for RM and 2006 nationally. For light-duty diesel fueled vehicles operating in RM, standards based on California Tier 1 and Euro 4 were adopted for 2006/2007 and were be tightened to EPA Tier 2 Bin 5/Euro 5 levels in 2011. EPA Tier 2 Bin 8/Euro 4 based standards for light-duty vehicles with a spark ignition engine operating in RM apply beginning 2011. For medium-duty spark ignition and diesel fueled vehicles operating in RM, standards based on EPA Tier 1 Bin 8 and Euro 4 levels came into effect in 2011; medium-duty diesel fueled vehicles were tightened to EPA Tier 2 Bin 5/Euro 5 in 2012. The US based standards are numerically equal to the intermediate life (5 year/50,000 mile) EPA or California limits.

Gasoline, CNG and LPG fueled vehicles
New gasoline fueled vehicles must also meet an evaporative emission limit of 2 g/test (SHED).

In-use vehicles. Inspection and Maintenance tests are carried out with a two speed idle test. In-use light-duty, medium-duty spark-ignition and heavy-duty gasoline fueled vehicles have to meet I/M maximum limits of 0.5% CO and 100 ppm HC. Light-duty SI vehicles must also meet a minimum limit of 6% CO2 + CO. Light-duty diesels must show no visible smoke. Medium-duty and heavy-duty diesels must pass filter smoke number and opacity tests with the engine under load and during a snap-acceleration test. An in-use opacity limit for vehicles equipped with particulate filters is set at 0.24 m-1 maximum [D.S. N° 66/10]. Urban buses have also the following in-use emission limits (D.S. N° 130/02):
 * Smoke opacity &lt; 4%, k = 1.0 1/m for diesel engines
 * CO &lt; 0.5%, THC &lt; 100 ppm for gaseous fuel and gasoline engines

Regulatory documents

 * Decree no. 211 Light-duty emissions regulation 1991 - Chilean Library of Congress


 * 2012 Amendment