Chile: On-Road Vehicles and Engines

• Background
• Light Duty Vehicles
• Trucks and Buses

Background

Chilean emission standards for vehicles and engines are adopted by the Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones (MTT) in cooperation with the Comision Nacional del Medio Ambiente (CONAMA).

Emission standards for highway vehicles, light- and heavy-duty, have been in place since the early 1990’s. 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 durability or OBD requirements are indicated in any of Chile’s emission standards.

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. Application date for registration as opposed to vehicle model year is used presumably to control imports of 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 what region of the country a vehicle may operate in. Rules for issuing stickers depend on the vehicle class.

Due to more severe pollution problems, many vehicle emission standards for the Santiago Metropolitan Region are more stringent and/or introduced earlier that those for the rest of the country.

Light Duty Vehicles

The emission standards for light-duty (GVWR < 2700 kg) and medium-duty (2700 ≤ GVWR < 3860 kg) vehicles apply to 1994 model year and newer vehicles [D.S. N° 211/1991 and D.S. N° 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 in Table 1. These standards first applied in the Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM) and in the continental parts of Region V and Region VI. The test cycle was the US FTP 75.

Table 1
Emission Standards for Light-Duty Vehicles (1992-2006), g/km

Category	Date	CO	HC	NOx	PM*
Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
Passenger Cars	1992.09 (RM, V & VI) 1994.09 (National)	2.11	0.25	0.62	0.125
Light-Duty Trucks	1992.09 (RM, V & VI)	6.2	0.50	1.43	0.16
	1998.09 (RM) 2006.05 (National)	6.2	0.50	0.75	0.16
Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVW < 3860 kg
Type 1, LVW < 1700 kg	1995.09 (RM, V & VI)	6.2	0.50	1.43	0.16
	1998.09 (RM) 2006.05 (National)	6.2	0.50	0.75	0.16
Type 2, LVW ≥ 1700 kg	1995.09 (RM, V & VI)	6.2	0.50	1.43	0.31
	1998.09 (RM) 2006.05 (National)	6.2	0.50	1.10	0.08
* PM limits apply to diesel vehicles only

More recent standards reflecting US Tier 1 and Euro 3 standards have been adopted and are shown in Tables 2 and 3. Standards based on California Tier 1 and Euro 4 have been adopted for diesel fueled light-duty vehicles in the Metropolitan Region, Table 4. The US based standards are numerically equal to the intermediate life (5 year/50,000 mile) EPA or California limits.

Table 2
Emission Standards for Diesel Fueled Light-Duty Vehicles, g/km

Category		Date	CO	NMHC	NOx+HC	NOx	PM
Alternative 1: US Based Standards [EPA Tier 1, Intermediate life]
	Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
	Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.11	0.16a		0.62	0.05
	LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 kg		2.11	0.16		0.62	0.05
	LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700 kg		2.74	0.20		0.61	0.05
	Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVW < 3860 kg
	Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.74	0.20		0.61	0.06
	Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg		3.11	0.24		0.95	0.07
Alternative 2: EU Based Standards [Euro 3]
	Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
	Passenger Cars	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	0.64		0.56	0.50	0.05
	LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg		0.64		0.56	0.50	0.05
	LDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤1760 kg		0.80		0.72	0.65	0.07
	LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.95		0.86	0.78	0.10
	Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVW < 3860 kg
	MDT Class 1, RM ≤1305	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	0.64		0.56	0.50	0.05
	MDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		0.80		0.72	0.65	0.07
	MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.95		0.86	0.78	0.10
a - A THC limit of 0.25 g/km is also applicable.

Table 3
Emission Standards for Gasoline, CNG and LPG Fueled Light-Duty Vehicles, g/km

Category		Date	CO	HC	NMHC	NOx
Alternative 1: US Based Standards [EPA Tier 1, Intermediate life]
	Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
	Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.11	0.25	0.16	0.25
	LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700		2.11	0.25	0.16	0.25
	LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700		2.74	0.25	0.20	0.44
	Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVW < 3860 kg
	Type 1, 1700 kg < ALVW ≤ 2610 kg	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.70		0.20	0.44
	Type 2, ALVW ≥ 2610 kg			3.11	0.24	0.68
Alternative 2: EU Based Standards [Euro 3]
	Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
	Passenger Cars	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.3	0.20		0.15
	LDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg		2.3	0.20		0.15
	LDT Class 2, 1305 < RM ≤ 1760 kg		4.17	0.25		0.18
	LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		5.22	0.29		0.21
	Medium-Duty Vehicles 2700 ≤ GVW < 3860 kg
	MDT Class 1, RM ≤ 1305 kg	2005.01 (RM) 2006.09 (National)	2.3	0.20		0.15
	MDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤ 1760 kg		4.17	0.25		0.18
	MDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		5.22	0.29		0.21

Table 4
Emission Standards for Diesel Fueled Light-Duty Vehicles in Metropolitan Region, g/km

Category		Date	CO	NMHC	NOx+HC	NOx	PM
Alternative 1: US Based Standards [California Tier 1, Intermediate life]
	Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
	Passenger Cars ≤ 12 passengers	2006.03	2.11	0.16		0.25	0.05
	LDT Type 1, LVW ≤ 1700 kg		2.11	0.16		0.25	0.05
	LDT Type 2, LVW > 1700 kg		2.74	0.20		0.44	0.05
Alternative 2: EU Based Standards [Euro 4]
	Light-Duty Vehicles GVWR < 2700 kg
	Passenger Cars	2006.03 GVWR < 2500 kg 2007.03 GVWR > 2500 kg	0.50		0.30	0.25	0.025
	LDT Class 1, RM ≤1305 kg	2006.03	0.50		0.30	0.25	0.025
	LDT Class 2, 1305 kg < RM ≤ 1760 kg	2007.03	0.63		0.39	0.33	0.04
	LDT Class 3, RM > 1760 kg		0.74		0.46	0.39	0.06

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 fuelled 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.

Trucks and Buses

Emission standards for heavy-duty truck and bus engines [D.S. N° 55/1994] are listed in Table 5. Early standards applied to vehicles operating in the Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM) and Region IV to X. Nationwide standards took effect in 2006. In cases where dual standard exist—EU-based expressed in g/kWh or US-based in g/bhp-hr—engines are tested on the respective EU or US test cycles, as indicated.

Table 5
Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty Engines, GVW ≥ 3860 kg

Date	CO	HC	NOx	PM	Unit	Test	Reference
Diesel
1994.09 (RM & IV-X)1	4.5	1.1	8.0	0.36a	g/kWh	ECE R-49	Euro I
	15.5	1.3	6.0	0.35	g/bhp-hr	US FTP	US 1991
1998.09 (RM & IV-X) 2006.05 (National)	4.0	1.1	7.0	0.15	g/kWh	ECE R-49	Euro II
	15.5	1.3	5.0	0.10	g/bhp-hr	US FTP	US 1994
2006.10 (RM & IV-X)2	2.1	0.66	5.0	0.10 (0.13*)	g/kWh	ESC	Euro III
	5.45	0.78	5.0	0.16 (0.21*)		ETC
	15.5	1.3	4.0	0.10	g/bhp-hr	US FTP	US 1998
Gasoline
1994.09	37.1	1.9	5.0	-	g/bhp-hr	US FTP
Gaseous Fuels
2004.01 (RM)	5.45	0.78b	5.0		g/kWh	ETC
	15.5	1.3c	4.0	0.10	g/bhp-hr	US FTP
* for engines of less than 0.75 dm3 swept volume per cylinder and a rated power speed of more than 3000 min-1 1 - Regions where standard took effect on date indicated 2 - ETC testing and emission limits apply only to diesel engines with advanced aftertreatment, e.g., with particulate filters and/or NOx catalysts a - 0.612 g/kWh for engines < 85 kW b - NMHC for natural gas engines; natural gas engines must also meet a CH4 limit of 1.6 g/kWh c - 1.2 g/bhp-hr NMHC for natural gas engines

Emission standards for urban buses operating in certain parts of the Santiago Metropolitan Region (Santiago Province and the municipalities of San Bernardo and Puente Alto) are more stringent than those listed in Table 5. These are listed in Table 6. The most recent 2002 limits [D.S. N° 130/02] are equivalent to Euro III/US 1998 standards.

Table 6
Emission Standards for Urban Buses in Metropolitan Region

Date	CO	HC	NOx	PM	Unit	Test	Reference
Diesel
1993.09	4.5	1.1	8.0	0.36a	g/kWh	ECE R-49	Euro I
	15.5	1.3	6.0	0.25	g/bhp-hr	US FTP	US 1991
1996.09	4.0	1.1	7.0	0.15	g/kWh	ECE R-49	Euro II
	15.5	1.3	5.0	0.10	g/bhp-hr	US FTP	US 1994
2002.09†	2.1	0.66	5.0	0.10 (0.13*)	g/kWh	ESC	Euro III
	5.45	0.78	5.0	0.16 (0.21*)		ETC
	15.5	1.3	4.0	0.05	g/bhp-hr	US FTP	US 1998
Gasoline
1993.09	37.1	1.9	5.0	-	g/bhp-hr	US FTP
Gaseous Fuels
2002.09	5.45	0.78b	5.0	-	g/kWh	ETC	Euro III
	15.5	1.3c	4.0	0.05	g/bhp-hr	US FTP	US 1998
* for engines of less than 0.75 dm3 swept volume per cylinder and a rated power speed of more than 3000 min-1 † for Euro III diesel vehicles whose first application for registration is made before 2006.03, ETC testing and emission limits apply only to diesel engines with advanced aftertreatment, e.g., with particulate filters and/or NOx catalysts. ESC and ETC testing applies to all diesel vehicles whose first application for registration is made 2006.03 or later. a - 0.612 g/kWh for engines < 85 kW b - NMHC for natural gas engines; natural gas engines must also meet a CH4 limit of 1.6 g/kWh c - 1.2 g/bhp-hr NMHC for natural gas engines

Gasoline and gas fueled trucks and buses have also an evaporative emission limit of 4 g per test.

Urban buses have also the following in-use emission limits [D.S. N° 130/02]:

• Smoke opacity < 4%, k = 1.0 1/m for diesel engines
• CO < 0.5%, THC < 100 ppm for gaseous fuel and gasoline engines