Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Launches Korean-style Green NCAP Assessment Technology Development
Developing Vehicle Environmental Friendliness Assessment Methods Including LCA…250 Billion Won by 2026

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will invest 25 billion won through December 2026 to actively begin development of technology for assessing vehicle environmental friendliness, including greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air quality of automobiles.

The Ministry announced on the 3rd that it will commence the "Korean-style Green NCAP Assessment Technology Development" project to evaluate vehicle environmental friendliness in order to implement carbon neutrality in the transportation sector and accelerate the transition to eco-friendly vehicles.

The total project cost begins at 2.5 billion won in 2023 and will total 25 billion won through December 2026, with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority serving as the lead research institution.

NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) is an evaluation program that conducts tests at higher levels than legal standards such as vehicle collision standards, discloses results, and encourages improvements in vehicle safety performance. This program is implemented by major countries including the United States and Europe.

'Green NCAP' is a system that evaluates vehicle environmental friendliness including greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air quality of automobiles and discloses the results.

This research and development is expected to serve as a foundation for expansion into a "comprehensive vehicle assessment system" that evaluates both environmental friendliness (Green) and safety (Safety) of vehicles alongside the currently implemented "Vehicle Safety Assessment (Safety NCAP)" which evaluates vehicle collision performance and safety.

The "Korean-style Green NCAP Assessment Technology Development" consists of △vehicle lifecycle greenhouse gas assessment (A-LCA) △vehicle performance evaluation including fuel consumption rate and driving range after single charge (electric vehicles) △development of vehicle indoor air quality assessment methods and rating system.

A-LCA (Automotive-Life Cycle Assessment) is an assessment of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the fuel cycle (fuel production-transportation-charging-utilization) and vehicle cycle (raw material acquisition-assembly-use-disposal) throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

In particular, the vehicle lifecycle greenhouse gas assessment method is planned to be actively utilized as a research foundation for reflection in international standards being discussed at WP.29, an international organization under the UN.

WP.29 is an international conference body under the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) for the establishment and revision of international automotive standards, and our country has served as chair of the expert group discussing automotive lifecycle greenhouse gas assessment standards since October of last year.

Additionally, the ministry plans to develop equipment for assessing eco-friendly vehicle performance, volatile harmful substances generated from vehicle interior trim materials, and equipment for evaluating the impact of externally-introduced pollutants such as fine particulate matter.

The major content of the "Korean-style Green NCAP Assessment Technology Development" R&D project includes development of greenhouse gas emission assessment and rating methods in the A-LCA stage that cover the entire vehicle lifecycle from production through operation and disposal, including energy consumed during operation.

The research achievements will be actively utilized for reflecting A-LCA international standards following discussions by a consultative body composed of domestic stakeholders (automobile manufacturers, etc.) and experts.

In terms of performance evaluation, development of assessment methods and rating systems for vehicle performance including fuel consumption efficiency for internal combustion engine vehicles and energy consumption efficiency for eco-friendly vehicles, and driving range after single charge, as well as development of eco-friendly vehicle assessment equipment.

In the indoor air quality assessment sector, the ministry plans to develop evaluation and rating methods and assessment equipment for volatile harmful substances generated from vehicle interior trim materials and the impact of externally-introduced pollutants (fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, etc.).

Kim Eun-jeong, Director of the Automotive Policy Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated, "Just as the Vehicle Safety Assessment (Safety NCAP) has contributed to creating a safe transportation environment by encouraging the development and production of safe vehicles, Green NCAP will also encourage the development and production of eco-friendly vehicles, provide consumers with information about eco-friendly vehicles, contribute to expanding the supply of eco-friendly vehicles, and lead carbon neutrality in the transportation sector." She further noted, "Due to strengthened greenhouse gas regulations in international society, managing greenhouse gas emissions from a vehicle lifecycle perspective is not optional but essential. To alleviate the burden on Korea's automotive industry, our country plans to take the initiative and actively respond to international standard-setting."