Introductory text

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^f1, and in particular Article 12(4) thereof,

Whereas:

The supplier Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH (the ‘Applicant’) submitted an application for the approval of the light emitting diodes (LEDs) low beam module, ‘E-Light’, as an innovative technology on 9 July 2013. The completeness of the application was assessed in accordance with Article 4 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011^f2. The application was found to be complete and the period for the Commission’s assessment of the application started on the day following the date of official receipt, i.e. 10 July 2013.

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)^f3.

The application refers to the LED low beam module ‘E-Light’, which is a lighting technology based on a so called refraction-reflection system. The E-Light module uses the reflection and refraction of light through lenses to concentrate the light produced by small number of LED lamps. This technology is significantly different from the LED lighting system approved as an eco-innovation in Commission Implementing Decision 2013/128/EU^f4. It should also be noted that the application by Automotive Lighting is based on the simplified approach described in the Technical Guidelines, whereas the previously approved application was based on the comprehensive approach.

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.

The Applicant has demonstrated that the use of the E-Light module in passenger cars did not exceed 3 % of the new passenger cars registered in the reference year 2009. In support of this the Applicant has referred to the Technical Guidelines, which provides for the summary of the CLEPA LIGHT Sight Safety report. The Applicant has used predefined functions and averaged data in line with the simplified approach specified in the Technical Guidelines.

The Applicant has in accordance with the simplified approach described in the Technical Guidelines used halogen lighting as baseline technology for demonstrating the CO₂ reducing capacity of the ‘E-Light’ module.

The Applicant has provided a methodology for testing the CO₂ reductions which includes formulae that are consistent with the formulae described in the Technical Guidelines for the simplified approach with regard to lighting functions. The Commission considers that the testing methodology will provide testing results that are verifiable, repeatable and comparable and that it 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.

Against that background 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.

Since the activation of the lighting in the low beam is not required for the CO₂ emissions type approval test referred to in Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f5 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008^f6, the Commission is satisfied that the lighting functions in question are not covered by the standard test cycle.

The activation of the lighting functions concerned is mandatory to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle and as a consequence not dependant on the choice of the driver. On that basis the Commission finds that the manufacturer should be considered accountable for the CO₂ emission reduction due to the use of the LEDs.

The Commission finds that the verification report has been prepared by FAKT S.r.l. which is an independent and certified body and that the report supports the findings set out in the application.

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

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: