For many years, European air quality objectives have focused on reducing vehicle exhaust emissions through integrated improvements in engine performance, after-treatment technology, and fuel qualities. Achieving these reductions and improving air quality in the most efficient way has required a sound understanding of the complex relationships between engine combustion and fuel composition. CONCAWE has been an active contributor to this area of research through in-depth studies on emerging engine technologies, as well as on the impact of fuel composition on vehicle performance, driveability, and emissions as these vehicles enter the on-road fleet. This research has provided a strong basis for the evolution of road fuel specifications and CONCAWE has actively participated in this process through the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). CONCAWE is also a Board member of the Coordinating European Council (CEC), which is responsible for developing performance tests for transportation fuels, lubricants and other fluids.

Reports and articles are published regularly on our research studies and related topics. In addition, CONCAWE periodically produces a comprehensive report on global motor vehicle emissions legislation and fuel specifications. Although this report is not available for free download, it can be purchased from CONCAWE.

While air quality improvements continue to be a European priority, growing concerns over climate change have resulted in a shift in focus from local air pollutants to greenhouse gas emissions. The blending of bio-products like ethanol, vegetable oils and others into transportation fuels is one approach being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These bio-products can be quite different from today’s transportation fuels while their benefits to energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and land use are difficult to assess. For this reason, CONCAWE has championed a "well-to-wheels" assessment of the impact of future automotive fuels and vehicles on greenhouse gas emissions and energy balance. A detailed study on the well-to-wheels impacts of different bio-products and other alternatives has been published jointly by CONCAWE, the European Council on Automotive R&D (EUCAR), and the EU Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and is available on the JRC website.

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