Remote Sensing of Emissions: How Europe Is Revolutionizing Vehicle Control and Why It Matters for Us

Introduction: A Historic Decision by the TRAN Committee

In May 2026, the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) made a truly historic decision. For the first time in EU history, all member states are mandated to deploy remote sensing systems to monitor air pollutant emissions from vehicles under real-world operating conditions. This is part of a major reform of the EU Roadworthiness Package, which revises three key directives: on periodic roadworthiness tests, on roadside technical inspections, and on vehicle registration documents.

Why can this decision be called revolutionary? Because it changes the very philosophy of control. Until now, emissions testing was carried out either in laboratory conditions during the certification of new models, or sporadically at stationary inspection points. Laboratory tests, as the Dieselgate scandal showed, are easily deceived using software. And periodic technical inspection is a "snapshot" of a vehicle's condition once every one to two years.

A remote sensing system, however, operates on a fundamentally different principle. It is capable of checking thousands of vehicles daily right on the road, under real driving conditions. And this truly is a game-changer.

How Remote Sensing Technology Works

The technology is based on the method of absorption spectroscopy. A light source and a detector are placed to the side of or above the road. The light beam crosses the roadway at the height of the exhaust pipe. When a vehicle passes through the beam, exhaust gases partially absorb the radiation at wavelengths characteristic of each substance.

The measurement process takes less than one second. During this time, the system can determine the concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). More advanced versions can also measure soot, ammonia (NH₃), and other components.

The main advantage of the method lies in its non-invasiveness. Unlike traditional testing, where a gas analyzer probe is connected to the exhaust pipe, remote sensing requires no physical contact with the vehicle. Moreover, the driver does not even know that their vehicle is being tested. This eliminates the possibility of using "defeat devices" — software algorithms that detect the moment of testing and temporarily reduce emissions — the very devices that caused Dieselgate.

Why This Was Needed: The Shadow of Dieselgate

To understand the motivation of European legislators, one must go back ten years. In September 2015, the world was shaken by the scandal known as Dieselgate: it was revealed that Volkswagen Group had installed software on diesel vehicles that recognized laboratory test conditions and understated emissions. On the road, the same cars emitted up to 40 times more nitrogen oxides.

Further research showed the problem was systemic. According to ICCT, 85% of Euro 5 diesel cars and 77% of Euro 6 cars demonstrated "suspiciously high emissions" in real-world operation. The scandal cost the automotive industry billions of euros in fines, and the health of Europeans — an estimated 81,000 premature deaths by 2040.

Dieselgate fundamentally changed regulation. The share of diesel cars in the European market fell from 52% in 2015 to 18% in 2023. The EU introduced mandatory Real Driving Emissions (RDE) tests, revised homologation procedures, and began looking for tools to monitor vehicles throughout their lifecycle, not just at the certification stage.

Remote sensing became the logical and necessary next step. It makes it possible to identify vehicles exceeding emission standards not in the laboratory, but where it really matters — on city streets and highways.

Where This Technology Is Already Working

Remote sensing is not an experimental development. It is already successfully used in several countries:

• USA — systems have been used since the 1990s for inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs, and in 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received a patent for a new technology to measure the mass of any type of emissions from a moving vehicle.

• South Korea — one of the most extensive remote sensing programs has been deployed, covering major cities and main highways.

• Europe — several countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands, have already launched pilot projects. In the UK, for example, over 300,000 measurements were collected, showing a strong dependence of NOx emissions on ambient temperature.

The results are impressive. According to ICCT, the introduction of remote sensing technologies in the countries where they are already used has significantly reduced the number of vehicles exceeding emission standards and created a powerful deterrent effect against illegal tampering with exhaust after-treatment systems.

Simultaneously with the emissions control reform, the European Parliament approved measures to create an EU-wide mileage tracking system — the EU Mileage Transparency System. It aims to put an end to the multi-billion-euro damage caused by odometer fraud in used car sales.

What This Decision Means for Russia

The European directive will not have a direct impact on Russia — it only applies within the European Union. However, the indirect impact will be significant, and here is why.

Russia is already taking the first steps. Pilot projects for measuring harmful vehicle emissions using artificial intelligence have been launched in 12 cities with the support of the national project "Environmental Well-being." A mobile eco-laboratory capable of capturing up to 25 pollutants has appeared in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. South Ural State University has developed the AIMS-Eco system, which not only monitors emissions but also assesses their environmental impact, developing recommendations for mitigating the consequences of road traffic. However, these are research projects, not yet a mandatory program. The European experience could accelerate their transformation into a working mechanism.

The technology is becoming more accessible. As it is scaled up in the EU, the cost of remote sensing equipment will decrease. This will make it more affordable for Russian regions. The first candidates for implementation will likely be major cities with the most acute problem of air pollution from vehicles — Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, and Chelyabinsk.

The regulatory framework needs development. Russia currently lacks normative documents regulating the use of remote sensing for controlling vehicle emissions. The European experience can serve as a model for developing such documents.

Export prospects. Russian automakers focused on exports will have to take into account the new European requirements. This could stimulate the development of their own emission control systems and improve the environmental class of manufactured vehicles.

What This Means for Central Asia

For the countries of Central Asia, the European initiative is no less significant, although the starting positions here are different from those in Russia.

The problem is more acute. In Almaty, the transport sector is responsible for 90% of air pollution: 1% comes from electric transport, 77% from passenger cars, and 22% from buses. At the same time, the vehicle fleet in the region is significantly older than the European one, and emission control is practically non-existent. The introduction of even basic monitoring systems could yield a quick and tangible effect.

First steps are already being taken. Tashkent is introducing a mandatory "eco-sticker" system for all vehicles starting in 2026. Almaty is creating Low Emission Zones (LEZ) with restrictions for older cars — control in these zones will be ensured using a video surveillance system.

International support. Central Asian countries committed to strengthening the fight against air pollution at the ministerial dialogue in Astana in 2026. The European remote sensing program can serve as a benchmark and a source of technical expertise for the region. Given that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are already implementing elements of environmental transport monitoring, remote sensing technology could be integrated into these systems in the medium term.

Not All Smooth Sailing: Political Realities

With all the merits of the adopted decision, it is important to note that not all road safety initiatives received sufficient support. A number of proposals did not pass due to a lack of political will — especially on issues of reducing road deaths, where center-right and far-right groups showed no interest in achieving the EU goal of halving fatalities by 2030. Trilogues between the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, and the European Commission still lie ahead, during which the final text may undergo changes.

Conclusion

The TRAN Committee's decision is not a bureaucratic formality but a tectonic shift in the approach to controlling vehicle emissions. For the first time in history, an entire continent is moving from episodic checks to continuous monitoring, from laboratory tests to real-world measurements.

For Russia and Central Asia, this decision is important for at least three reasons. First, it sets a technological standard that will have to be met sooner or later — voluntarily or under the pressure of circumstances. Second, it creates a market for equipment that, as it scales up, will become cheaper and more accessible for developing countries. Third, it creates a regulatory model on which national standards and rules can be developed.

Dieselgate taught us that manufacturers cannot be taken at their word. Independent, objective, and continuous monitoring methods are needed. Remote sensing is one of the most promising tools in this arsenal. And the fact that Europe is making it mandatory is good news not only for Europeans but for everyone who breathes the air in cities around the world.