"Real World" Emissions Tests Paint a More Accurate Picture for Consumers

NOVI, MI -- Oct. 20, 2015: UK-based Emissions Analytics has tested more than 1,000 cars on the road in Europe and the U.S. in real-world driving situations to gather data on both fuel economy and emissions.

Comparing data compiled over the past four years with "official" numbers from major automakers reveals some striking differences, according to Nick Molden, CEO of Emissions Analytics.

Molden shared results from his company's research during a presentation at the Automotive Testing Expo (Oct. 20-22) at the Suburban Collection Showplace in the Detroit suburb of Novi.

"We started testing tailpipe emissions on the road in 2011," he said. "Based on our findings, we've felt strongly that this is the only way to truly understand real-world performance."

Molden pointed out that a more uniform way of testing new-model emissions and fuel-economy performance will soon be implemented in Europe with a recently-approved Real Driving Emissions (RDE) procedure that will more closely align lab testing with real-world results.

He noted that emissions from European cars are on average four times the regulated NOx limit when measured in real-world driving, and CO2 is on average 31 percent over the limit.

"For car buyers, this means that fuel economy on average is one quarter worse than advertised," Molden pointed out. "This matters, even if no illegal activity is found. These differences may well be explained by limitations in the official system, rather than through illegality."

Molden said that RDE tests can be especially helpful in designing effective test cycles that eliminate discrepancies between lab testing and results from on-road testing.

"Our tests provide valuable insights into the relative impact different powertrains and engine sizes have on fuel economy and emissions, in addition to factors such as traffic congestion and speed," he noted.

Molden also discussed results from Emissions Analytics' NOx testing in Europe, explaining that "real-world testing shows that technical advances aimed at cleaning up diesel emissions also enhance the CO2 and fuel economy benefits offered by these powerplants."

He concluded that the call for real-world emissions data, which is growing in part because of the VW scandal, actually could spark further meaningful reductions in vehicle emissions.