WLPT stands for Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procurement. It is the name of the test used to measure how economical a vehicle is, by measuring 3 things:
1. Fuel consumption
2. CO2 emissions
3. Pollutant emissions
For electric cars, energy consumption is measured.
The new WLTP tests replace the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) which, up until now, is how vehicles were tested based on theoretical driving.
The NEDC was designed in the 80s so advancements in technology and changes in driving conditions mean we can now carry out much more rigorous testing to provide more accurate results.
WLTP, however, uses real-driving data and should therefore be more accurate as the test is based on normal driving styles.
The improvements made to testing include:
1. Realistic driving styles
2. Broader range of driving situations, such as; motorway driving, town centre driving, suburban driving, etc.
3. Longer test distances to obtain better data
4. Better represented acceleration and deceleration
5. More realistic temperatures for Europe
6. Higer driving speeds
7. Shorter stops
8. Testing for cars with different optional extras added