Carmakers exaggerating fuel efficiency, study shows
Research shows that 'real-world' carbon emissions for new cars based on fuel consumption are about 25pc higher on average than carmakers say
The gap has widened between the fuel-efficiency that carmakers declare for their models and the reality for drivers, with luxury German vehicles showing the biggest divergence, a study has found.
The research by the non-profit International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found “real-world” carbon emissions for new cars based on fuel consumption are about 25 per cent higher on average than carmakers say, compared with 10 per cent a decade ago.
The findings will add to pressure for the reform of EU vehicle testing procedures to ensure that advertised fuel-efficiency values better reflect normal use. That in turn could make it harder for manufacturers to meet a new EU carbon dioxide (CO2) vehicle emissions target proposed for 2020.
BMW reported emissions figures for its vehicles on average 30 per cent lower than those found in actual use, said the report, published on Tuesday.
BMW was not immediately available to comment on the findings reported by the ICCT, which aims to improve efficiency in transportation to benefit public health and mitigate climate change.
Volkswagen’s luxury unit Audi had the second widest disparity, with reported emissions some 28 per cent below actual use, while Mercedes showed a gap of 26 per cent.
Figures for emissions from Toyota vehicles were found to be about 15 per cent less than in real use and Renault and Peugeot Citroen’s published data was about 16 per cent lower than for vehicles on the road.