EU regulators want more accurate fuel testing as US figures show a drop in consumption.
What are the real fuel savings? Image: Stock |
Draft legislation is being prepared in Europe to prevent car makers exaggerating fuel savings and emissions reductions.
With manufacturers taping up car doors and windows, while allegedly driving test vehicle on unrealistically smooth road surfaces, laboratory fuel tests have been discredited.
Vehicle test specialist TUV Nord said it has been involved in European Commission debate on real-world tests, which will need member state approval to become law under a fast-track EU process.
"In the real world we have seen that nitrogine oxide (NOX) emissions are higher than indicated by the test, up to a factor 4 or 5 and exceptionally more," one EU official said.
From 1st September 2014, slightly tougher testing has already been enforced. Diesel models should emit no more than 0.08 gram (80 milligrams) of NOX per kilometre.
The car industry acknowledges the flawed nature of laboratory testing but is urging that the proposed "real-world" testing alternative should equally be realistic. It also says that setting a 2025 standard on car CO2 emissions is too soon.
Meanwhile, August figures showed increased fuel economy in new vehicles across the US. A University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute report showed average window-sticker ratings of cars, SUVs, vans and pickups purchased during the month was 25.8 mpg, up significantly from 24.9 year-on-year. The mandatory stickers, also known as Monroney stickers after the US Senator that sponsored the first disclosure legislation in 1958, include fuel economy and emissions ratings as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Institute has published two reports since October 2007 when fuel economy was 5.7mpg lower and average greenhouse gas emissions of each new-vehicle driver in the US was 22% higher.