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Results of the assessment of atmospheric emissions from light diesel vehicles in Wallonia
NOx and CO2: Widespread and significant exceedance of standards
On Thursday, Walloon Environment Minister Carlo DI ANTONIO will present the Walloon Government with the results of the assessment of atmospheric emissions from light diesel vehicles.
The test results are alarming from an environmental point of view, particularly in terms of NOx emissions, not to mention the impact on health. The values indicated on the vehicle’s passport and European standards are widely and significantly exceeded. explains Carlo DI ANTONIO.
As a reminder, in the context of the VW affair, the Minister for the Environment wanted to obtain a real estimate of light vehicle emission levels in Wallonia, in order to assess the difference with the values provided by manufacturers.
RESULTS
As far as NOx is concerned, the vehicles tested had emissions well in excess of declared levels.
The average value measured was 617mg/km, whereas the EUR 5 emission limit is 180mg/km. The maximum values observed are as high as 1183.97mg/km!
This represents an average excess of 3.4 times the standard of 180mg/km, and 4.4 times the average emission level of 141mg/km stated in the vehicle’s certificate of conformity.
10% of vehicles tested emit 5 times more than the limit. Only 1 vehicle complies with the standard.
The tests estimate that the 430,000 Euro 5 vehicles registered in Wallonia exceeded the standard in 2015, emitting a surplus of 4,600T of NOx into the Walloon atmosphere.
NOx emissions in Wallonia are 43.5Kt/year, of which 60% are linked to transport, and 46% to light vehicles.
As far as CO2 is concerned, all vehicles have an emission rate higher than the value declared by the manufacturers. Observed emissions are on average 36% higher than declared values.
The average value measured is 163.26 gr/km, while the CO2 emissions ceiling is set at 130 gr/km.
In Wallonia, transport is responsible for 27.8% of CO2 emissions.
TESTING PROCEDURES
These results are consistent with those obtained by the British, German and French authorities. Whatever the test protocol and Euro standard, the conclusions are similar.
The tests were carried out at the CTA (Centre de Technologie avancée) in Mons, in partnership with AWAC (Agence wallonne de l’Air et du Climat), ISSeP (Institut scientifique de service public) and UMONS. 38 vehicles were tested from January 30, 2016. Similar sample sizes were chosen in Germany, France and the UK, with 53, 52 and 37 vehicles tested respectively.
To ensure that the results are comparable, the vehicles tested all had the same characteristics (EURO 5 standard, mileage under 100,000 km, 1400 to 2100 cc engines). They were installed on a test bench equipped with software simulating a circuit of the order of 30km.
During these tests, the data sheet received at the time of European vehicle type-approval and the actual state of pollution emitted were compared.
SITUATION IN WALLONIA
At this stage, the Walloon government has decided to enter into negotiations with the VW group with a view to obtaining compensation for the damage caused.
The Walloon Government has also declared itself an injured party in order to preserve Wallonia’s rights in the proceedings and to be kept informed of the progress of the criminal investigation. This decision is a prerequisite for filing a civil suit with the examining magistrate.
For Minister DI ANTONIO, these results demonstrate the need to gear air quality policy more towards vehicles. The measures in the Air-Climate Plan will be reviewed in the light of these new data.
The results also demonstrate the futility of the NEDC homologation tests hitherto imposed by Europe. A new laboratory test procedure (WLTP) will come into force in 2017. The aim is to achieve worldwide harmonization and test conditions that are closer to real-life traffic conditions.
NOx emissions results
| Vehicles | Declared emissions (mg/km) | Emissions measured (mg/km) | NOx measured / Euro 5 standard (180 mg/km) | |
| 1 | SKODA Roomster | 129,6 | 884,08 | 4,91 |
| 2 | DACIA Lodgy | 161,2 | 958,26 | 5,32 |
| 3 | ALFA ROMEO Giulietta | 157,6 | 403,32 | 2,24 |
| 4 | VW New Beetle | 142,1 | 774,33 | 4,3 |
| 5 | SEAT Alhambra | 141,1 | 182,72 | 1,01 |
| 6 | CITROEN Berlingo | 166,5 | 774,12 | 4,3 |
| 7 | KIA Venga | 146,9 | 355,27 | 1,97 |
| 8 | DACIA Sandero | 119,3 | 638,21 | 3,54 |
| 9 | KIA Sportage | 131,3 | 524,79 | 2,91 |
| 10 | CITROEN C5 | 144,2 | 507,91 | 2,82 |
| 11 | VW Polo | 142,0 | 560,45 | 3,11 |
| 12 | MERCEDES B200 cdi | 159,5 | 342,50 | 1,9 |
| 13 | KIA Optima | 119,4 | 364,95 | 2,02 |
| 14 | FIAT 500L | 168,4 | 837,05 | 4,65 |
| 15 | PEUGEOT 208 | 108,5 | 727,73 | 4,04 |
| 16 | OPEL ASTRA | 201,0 | 540,13 | 3 |
| 17 | MERCEDES B180 cdi | 139,8 | 389,71 | 2,16 |
| 18 | CITROEN C4 e-Hdi | 119,6 | 508,16 | 2,82 |
| 19 | SKODA Octavia | 117,9 | 850,42 | 4,72 |
| 20 | OPEL Mokka | 132,6 | 622,54 | 3,45 |
| 21 | FORD Mondéo | 153,9 | 338,08 | 1,87 |
| 22 | NISSAN Juke | 176,0 | 413,62 | 2,29 |
| 23 | VW Golf Plus | 162,2 | 716,34 | 3,97 |
| 24 | RENAULT Mégane Scénic | 140,8 | 871,82 | 4,84 |
| 25 | RENAULT Clio 4 | 142,7 | 761,93 | 4,23 |
| 26 | CHEVROLET Cruze | 113,6 | 1088,74 | 6,04 |
| 27 | FORD Grand C-Max | 165,4 | 463,68 | 2,57 |
| 28 | VOLVO V60 | 143,7 | 687,96 | 3,82 |
| 29 | NISSAN Qashqai | 167,5 | 1183,37 | 6,57 |
| 30 | TOYOTA Yaris | 130,8 | 312,05 | 1,73 |
| 31 | CITROEN DS4 | 146,6 | 629,49 | 3,49 |
| 32 | VOLVO C30 | 138,6 | 596,54 | 3,31 |
| 33 | VW Sharan | 138,5 | 173,72 | 0,96 |
| 34 | VOLVO V40 | 172,6 | 1108,50 | 6,15 |
| 35 | SKODA Yeti | 136,2 | 554,51 | 3,08 |
| 36 | HYUNDAI I40 | 51,0 | 188,82 | 1,04 |
| 37 | AUDI A6 Avant 4G | 143,7 | 504,65 | 2,8 |
| 38 | SKODA Octavia | 97,7 | 1122,58 | 6,23 |
CO2 emissions results
| Vehicles | Declared emissions | Measured emissions | Difference (%) | |
| 1 | SKODA Roomster | 124 | 138,3 | 11,53 |
| 2 | DACIA Lodgy | 109 | 142,9 | 31 |
| 3 | ALFA ROMEO Giulietta | 124 | 144,7 | 16,69 |
| 4 | VW New Beetle | 124 | 153,01 | 23,39 |
| 5 | SEAT Alhambra | 146 | 166,07 | 13,7 |
| 6 | CITROEN Berlingo | 139 | 166,41 | 19,7 |
| 7 | KIA Venga | 119 | 171,84 | 44,4 |
| 8 | DACIA Sandero | 99 | 164,23 | 65,8 |
| 9 | KIA Sportage | 139 | 179,18 | 28,9 |
| 10 | CITROEN C5 | 163 | 189,44 | 16,22 |
| 11 | VW Polo | 99 | 160,78 | 62,4 |
| 12 | MERCEDES B200 cdi | 112 | 158,66 | 41,6 |
| 13 | KIA Optima | 158 | 170,82 | 8,11 |
| 14 | FIAT 500L | 117 | 151,72 | 29,6 |
| 15 | PEUGEOT 208 | 98 | 158,23 | 61,45 |
| 16 | OPEL ASTRA | 119 | 168,94 | 41,9 |
| 17 | MERCEDES B180 cdi | 108 | 160,36 | 48,48 |
| 18 | CITROEN C4 e-Hdi | 100 | 162,22 | 62,22 |
| 19 | SKODA Octavia | 99 | 148,34 | 49,83 |
| 20 | OPEL Mokka | 120 | 146,03 | 21,69 |
| 21 | FORD Mondéo | 114 | 160,22 | 40,54 |
| 22 | NISSAN Juke | 104 | 158,44 | 52,34 |
| 23 | VW Golf Plus | 126 | 160,49 | 27,37 |
| 24 | RENAULT Mégane Scénic | 128 | 160,47 | 25,36 |
| 25 | RENAULT Clio 4 | 95 | 170,55 | 79,52 |
| 26 | CHEVROLET Cruze | 117 | 187,35 | 60,12 |
| 27 | FORD Grand C-Max | 129 | 176,49 | 36,81 |
| 28 | VOLVO V60 | 119 | 164,81 | 38,49 |
| 29 | NISSAN Qashqai | 137 | 187,29 | 36,7 |
| 30 | TOYOTA Yaris | 109 | 154,1 | 41,37 |
| 31 | CITROEN DS4 | 113 | 152,44 | 34,9 |
| 32 | VOLVO C30 | 99 | 172,86 | 74,6 |
| 33 | VW Sharan | 146 | 168,37 | 15,32 |
| 34 | VOLVO V40 | 88 | 144,33 | 64,01 |
| 35 | SKODA Yeti | 140 | 170,43 | 21,73 |
| 36 | HYUNDAI I40 | 129 | 179,25 | 38,95 |
| 37 | AUDI A6 Avant 4G | 132 | 182 | 37,87 |
| 38 | SKODA Octavia | 123 | 152,08 | 23,64 |
Press contact: Marie MINET – 0479/888.475 – marie.minet@gov.wallonie.be