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EU Study Reveals Real-World Car Emissions Exceed Advertised Rates By 20%
A recent study conducted by the European Union's First Commission has revealed that the fuel efficiency and environmental impact of cars are worse than what is indicated by the official WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure) test results.
The study, which analyzed a sample of 600,000 cars, found that petrol cars are approximately 24% more inefficient and polluting than their WLTP ratings suggest, while diesel models fall 18% short of their emissions and MPG targets. The situation is even worse for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars, which were found to emit three-and-a-half times more CO2 in real-world driving than the WLTP test results indicate.
The gap for petrol and diesel car is is consistent with the assumptions made in the Commission's Impact Assessments for the revision of vehicle CO2 standards. Factors such as traffic conditions, landscape, road conditions, ambient temperature, use of air-conditioning and on-board electronics, and driver behavior contribute to the difference between laboratory test results and real-world emissions.
The bigger than expected gap for PHEVS is highly concerning and highlights that these vehicles are not currently realizing their potential, largely due to a lack of charging and fully electric driving.
To address this issue, the European Union plans to introduce revised tests for PHEVs in 2025. These tests will adjust the calculation of the utility factor, which determines the expected share of distance driven electrically. By using real-world data, the new tests aim to provide a more accurate representation of when the car uses electric power and when the petrol engine kicks in.
The current WLTP tests were introduced in 2017 to replace the old NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) tests and provide more realistic results. However, there is still a significant gap between the laboratory test figures and the actual fuel efficiency and emissions experienced by motorists in real-world driving conditions.
As the dataset expands in the coming years and becomes more representative of the evolving fleet of vehicles, it will be possible to determine how the gap evolves and whether further measures need to be taken to address it.
Since January 2021, all new cars and small vans in the EU that can run on liquid fuels must be equipped with approved on-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) devices. These devices record the vehicles' fuel or energy consumption and total distance driven. However, the initial data collection has been below expectations, and further steps are needed to improve monitoring in the coming years.
Thoughts About The European Union's First Commission Report
Overall, this study sheds light on the significant difference between official test results and real-world fuel efficiency and emissions. The European Union's decision to implement revised tests for PHEVs and improve monitoring of on-board data aim to provide motorists with a more accurate understanding of their vehicle's performance and environmental impact.should hopefully encourage the development and adoption of more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly cars.
However, these gaps between emission figures from lab test and those conducted in the real world more than justify the need to switch to real world emissions testing. Not only will this give us a more accurate representation of just how much fuel we are consuming but it will also help us decipher better what actually exits our exhausts when we go for a drive.
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