Car Maker Emissions Scrutiny European Commission.

[Ninja59]

The European Commission has accused manufacturers of manipulating official emissions testing to get better results

Car manufacturers have been accused of manipulating official testing methods to make their cars seem as though they have lower emissions figures than they actually do.

A report published by the European Commission claims that manufacturers could have doctored their testing methods, resulting in CO2 figures that are as much as 11 per cent lower than in real-world driving conditions.

The reports claims that there are a number of ‘tweaks’ to the testing method used to portray a lower emission figure, such as using smaller wheels to optimise rolling resistance and fuel economy. Testing a car with a fully charged battery was also cited as leading to a lower emissions reading.

The report also said that manufacturers regularly use the same track in Spain to test vehicles, instead of their own test track, because it had optimum conditions for testing coasting data such as a downward slope, ambient conditions and minimal aerodynamic drag.

The report could also have implications on the industry as it points out where regulations allow for discrepancies. It also mentions that while tests must be carried out in two opposite directions, it does not state that this has to be on the same road, consequently both directions of the track might be downhill.

Manufacturers were also found to precondition their cars before testing, ensuring certain components are fully warmed up and sealing any gaps between body parts by taping them up to help lower the vehicle's resistance.

While the report does not single out any specific manufacturer, it does suggest that these tactics are being used throughout the industry.



Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-new...#ixzz2LYwmmcke

Link in text, your thoughts?

[Marty Dolomite]

No shock there, they have been fiddling the numbers since cars where first built, top speed. 30-50 times, MPG, tyre wear and noise levels, all fiqures that can be proved by the car manufactuers and are different when the car is driven in the real world.

[DaveNP]

So to summarise-
The European Commission has found out that car manufacturers set up their cars to get the best result in the preset tests.

The only real bit of news here is that the European Commission were stupid enough to think that the manufacturers wouldn't do this, that's a bit like being surprised that people go to lessons and revise if they want to pass an exam.