The climate ratings of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) will become a lot more realistic after the EU agreed to reassess their CO2 emissions based on how much they actually emit on the road. Green group Transport & Environment, which has campaigned for years to highlight the true impact of so-called ‘fake’ electric vehicles, said the new system would end the emissions scandal that is … [Read more...]
Diesels’ unseen pollution danger
New diesels are bringing new problems, say environmentalists. New diesel cars’ pollution is peaking at more than 1,000 times their normal levels, tests of two top-selling vehicles show. The dangerous spikes in particles can instantly stress the heart and are a result of the cars cleaning their filters, which may occur in urban areas, last for up to 15km, and are effectively ignored by official … [Read more...]
Confusion over emissions tests will hit values
Uncertainty surrounding the new emissions-test system could help to create a degree of unpredictability in the used car market towards the end of this year and into 2019, warns the Vehicle Remarketing Association. The organisation, which represents businesses that together process more than 1.5 million used vehicles every year, says that there are two main factors the WLTP test might affect … [Read more...]
Newslines 24 July
VW is stockpiling new models it cannot sell because of delays in getting their emissions approval under the new WLTP tests. The tougher tests are taking VW longer to comply with and it has throttled back on production lines to stem the backlog so its rented car parks and open spaces to store the tens of thousands of cars involved. The MiVue 7 series premium dash cam is now available from … [Read more...]
New test to see more fleets go green
The arrival of the new WLTP fuel consumption and emissions standard could prompt some fleets to offer company cars to employees currently operating under grey fleet arrangements. The new regulations take effect this autumn and they have shown the “real world” consumption figures to be about 10-12% worse than under the current testing standard which will push up BIK costs to company car … [Read more...]
Tradelines 31 May
The first consignment of Chinese made Volvo S90s have started arriving in Europe after being shipped by rail from their factory, writes Robin Roberts. Up to 225 Volvo cars a week are shipped in special containers so they cannot move in transit on the Iron Silk Road trade route over 6,000 miles in about 18 days, reaching the UK in July. Electric cars will soon be cheaper to buy than … [Read more...]
Car makers ask for more time on emissions testing
Europe's car makers want more time to meet tougher new "real world emissions" tests. They have told EC legislators they would find it very difficult to meet the proposed deadline set for the new test to overcome issues associated with the current in-lab tests and which came to a head with the Volkswagen diesel-gate scandal. In a letter to European Commission Vice-President Timmermans on the … [Read more...]
Audi will buy back “illegal” cars in US
Audi will buy back 25,000 diesel engine cars in the U.S. to compensate owners whose cars do not meet exhaust emission standards, reported German weekly Der Spiegel. Audi representatives are in talks with US authorities about fixing 85,000 cars that had engines which were passed in doctored exhaust emissions tests and says it cannot rectify the 25,000 models it will now buy back … [Read more...]