Ricardo marks 2,000th vehicle tested at its Vehicle Emissions Research Centre
Ricardo has tested its 2,000th vehicle at its Vehicle Emissions Research Centre, a facility that has now completed more than 25,000 tests and 750,000km of dynamometer driving since opening in 2015.
- 2,000th
- more than 25,000
- 750,000km
- around 47
What Happened
Ricardo has marked the 2,000th vehicle tested at its Vehicle Emissions Research Centre (VERC), a milestone that comes with more than 25,000 tests completed and 750,000km driven on the facility's chassis dynamometer. VERC opened in 2015 and supports the development and certification of vehicle emissions and electric driving range, helping manufacturers demonstrate compliance with global regulatory standards. The advanced four-wheel-drive test facility enables climatic testing across temperatures from -30°C to +55°C, with humidity control allowing vehicles to be assessed under some of the most extreme real-world conditions.
Ricardo opens its Vehicle Emissions Research Centre (VERC).
Ricardo celebrates the 2,000th vehicle tested at VERC, with more than 25,000 tests and 750,000km completed on the chassis dynamometer.
750,000km
Equivalent to 18 trips around the globe, or almost a journey to the Moon and back, according to Ricardo Head of Test Tim Bassett.
- Run four-wheel-drive vehicles on an advanced chassis dynamometer test facility
- Carry out climatic testing from -30°C to +55°C with humidity control for extreme real-world conditions
- Use specialist emissions measurement equipment for detailed pollutant speciation and highly accurate analysis, supporting compliance with current and future regulations including the forthcoming Euro 7 standards
- Use high-voltage measurement systems to assess electrical energy consumption and determine the efficiency and driving range of electric and hybrid vehicles
“In just over 11 years, we have averaged around 47 tests per week on a wide variety of vehicles, covering a staggering 750,000km. That's the equivalent of 18 trips around the globe, or almost a journey to the Moon and back. These figures represent a significant achievement for Ricardo's testing facilities, but more importantly they demonstrate how we are supporting the development of the next generation of propulsion systems, helping to reduce emissions that are harmful to both the environment and human health.”
VERC was specifically designed to meet the strict testing requirements introduced with Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) legislation, and it was the first UK independent test facility to gain WLTP accreditation from the Vehicle Certification Agency. Ricardo says the facility's primary capability in R&D testing lets it add value to test programmes far in excess of standard regulatory requirements. The company presents the milestone as part of its continued commitment to advancing cleaner, more efficient transportation technologies and supporting the automotive industry through increasingly demanding emissions and electrification requirements.
Previously from Ricardo
Ricardo's propulsion work extends beyond testing: in July 2026 it joined a £10 million UK-backed project to develop low-cost Gallium Nitride traction inverters for the next Nissan LEAF, aimed at cutting EV costs and supporting the grid. In August 2026 the company celebrated the JCB Hydromax, a hydrogen vehicle it helped develop, after it set a 406mph FIA world land speed record as the fastest hydrogen vehicle.
- Ricardo joins £10m UK project to build next-gen GaN inverters for Nissan LEAF
- Ricardo celebrates JCB Hydromax 406mph FIA world land speed record for fastest hydrogen vehicle
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ricardo's official releases.
Why this matters
The milestone shows how much independent testing sits behind new cars: manufacturers use facilities like VERC to demonstrate compliance with emissions and electric-range rules, including the forthcoming Euro 7 standards. That certification work helps determine which vehicles can be sold and how quickly cleaner and electric models reach buyers.
Terms in This Story
- Chassis dynamometer
- A test rig that runs a complete vehicle on rollers so emissions, energy use and performance can be measured under controlled, repeatable conditions.
- WLTP
- The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, a globally harmonised laboratory test used to measure fuel consumption, CO2 and pollutant emissions from light vehicles.
- Euro 7
- The forthcoming stage of European vehicle emissions regulation, which sets pollutant limits and other requirements for new vehicles.
- VERC
- Ricardo's Vehicle Emissions Research Centre, an independent vehicle test facility opened in the UK in 2015.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.