In the hustle and bustle of our cities, motorcycles weave through traffic, offering a nimble solution to commuting conundrums. They zip by, leaving behind the scent of adventure and the faint trail of exhaust. Yet, amidst their convenience and allure, a lingering question remains: what is their true impact on our air quality? Motorcycles are often overlooked in discussions about emissions. It's a gap in our understanding that begs to be filled.

LENS is a three-year Horizon Europe project assisting enforcement authorities, cities, and regulators to decrease the contribution of mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadri-mobiles to noise and air pollution. It is an innovative project poised to revolutionize our approach to motorcycle emissions. Short for "LENS - L-vehicles Emissions and Noise mitigation Solutions," this groundbreaking endeavor aims to shed light on the real-world impact of motorcycles on air quality. By harnessing the power of remote sensing devices, LENS ventures into uncharted territory, capturing emissions data from motorcycles as they traverse our streets.

But LENS is more than just a scientific endeavor; it's a beacon of progress and possibility. With a mission to uncover the hidden truths of motorcycle emissions, this project holds the promise of a cleaner, healthier future for our cities. By identifying high-emitting motorcycles in real-time with Opus Remote Sensing Technology, LENS paves the way for targeted interventions and proactive measures to mitigate pollution.

LENS is bringing together experts from across disciplines to tackle a problem that affects us all. We've officially started on-road measurements in the Belgian city of Leuven, with an outstanding support of the local police force!

To learn more about LENS and its groundbreaking efforts, visit LENS Project Website. Together, let's unveil the unseen and pave the way for a cleaner, greener tomorrow:

https://www.lens-horizoneurope.eu/

Spain has announced that the long-awaited Sustainable Mobility Law is back on the agenda. One of the conepts to be included is the "urban toll". Replicating cities such as Stockholm, London or Milan, Spain contemplates that cities can implement systems of variable access by payment to the city.

Our Managing Director, Josefina de la Fuente, participates in this article in EL ESPAÑOL where she and three other experts analyze the concept of the Urban Toll.

Josefina stresses how the remote measurement of the real emissions of each vehicle is the perfect complement to implement a fairer, less aggressive and more efficient access system than other more generic policies.

OPUS RSE is working on several pilots to integrate RSD technology in toll systems. The solutions are aimed at increasing toll rates on freeways or in urban access to vehicles that have been measured with extreme emission levels, but at the same time rewarding those vehicles that have been measured with very low emission levels, giving free temporary access, applying discounts in parking lots or reducing their toll rates, thus encouraging fleet renewal and scrupulous car maintenance. 

Article: El Español

Using The Opus RSD as a warning system increases the probability of finding an illegally tampered truck by 25x times, compared to a blind inspection.

In the spring of 2021, vehicle emissions in and around the port of Antwerp-Bruges were measured by Opus remote sensing devices. The measurements confirmed that a small group of vehicles is responsible for a large part of the pollutant emissions, due to defects or fraud. Remote sensing makes it easier for inspectors to deal with the problem. Using the Opus RSD as an alerting system, targeted and effective measures can be taken to prosecute offenders and improve air quality.

It is clear that the RSD generates a much higher effectiveness of (scarce) roadside inspection staff and equipment, compared to “blind” roadside inspections, without the use of the RSD for pre-selection of inspected vehicles.

A TRUE Initiative study of real-world vehicle emissions has begun in Delhi National Capital Region, marking the first work of the Initiative in India.

As part of the TRUE initiative, Opus RSE and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) are collaborating with the Delhi Transport Department, National Highways Authority of India, and the Gurugram Administration to carry out a study using Opus remote sensing technology to measure vehicle exhaust emissions at more than 15 locations across the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), primarily in and around Delhi and Gurugram.

The TRUE study is an opportunity to collect up-to-date measurements of the current Delhi NCR fleet. More than 100,000 in-use vehicles will be measured at more than 15 locations in Delhi and Gurugram. TRUE, in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment, will complement the emissions testing study with a training session for government stakeholders to support wider adoption of remote sensing programs in Indian cities.

More information:

• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/amit-bhatt-7b434324_real-world-emission-data-can-help-policymakers-activity-7038493632047243264-BdPR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
• https://www.trueinitiative.org/blog/2023/january/true-remote-sensing-campaign-begins-in-delhi-ncr
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/study-to-find-polluting-vehicles-in-real-time-at-15-spots-in-delhi-ncr/articleshow/97502661.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/now-study-to-scan-polluting-vehicles-on-golf-course-rd/articleshow/99004261.cms

A pilot test in the Basque Country, on February 6, tested the remote sensing of vehicle emissions in real time with the aim of establishing a system of variable tolls, which takes into account the actual level of polluting emissions of each vehicle.

"This type of technology offers us the opportunity to adjust tolling fees based on the real pollution emitted by vehicles and to have fairer rates", added Aintzane Oiarbide, Deputy for Road Infrastructures of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, although she pointed out that the decisions to be taken in this matter will be "positive" and not with the aim of "punishing" the older fleet of vehicles.

The A-636 highway, in a section connecting Beasain and Bergara, was the first to become toll road when it was previously free, while in the last few days the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa itself has also announced new toll roads, in this case only for trucks, in different sections of the N-240, the BI-625, the Txorierri Corridor, the N-636 and the A-8.

Beyond official theoretical values of consumption and emissions, this solution would make it possible to establish fairer pay-per-use systems.

More information:

• https://www.autopista.es/noticias-motor/nuevos-peajes-variables-en-funcion-emisiones-reales-tu-coche-se-prueban-ya-en-espana_272627_102.html
• https://www.noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus/sociedad/2023/02/15/prueba-piloto-medicion-emisiones-carretera-6450108.html
• https://motor.elpais.com/actualidad/el-peaje-a-la-carta-para-las-autovias-de-pago-ya-es-una-realidad/