New, tougher emissions testing comes into force
All new petrol and diesel cars to face stricter testing, including 90 minutes of real-world driving
New emissions testing came into force in the UK today, with the updated standards described as “the biggest overhaul of emissions rules in a generation”.
Any diesel and petrol models introduced from today must now pass stricter testing before being allowed on British roads, with all new cars on sale being required to meet the standards by September 2019.
The old emissions check saw cars tested on a rolling road in a lab, but the new regulations will require a 90-minute real-world driving test.
Vehicles under scrutiny will have emissions-testing equipment attached to the exhaust pipe and will experience equal splits of town, countryside and motorway driving.
The new test has been introduced following government findings that Euro 6 diesel cars were emitting up to six times more nitrogen dioxide in real-world conditions than in a lab. It’s designed to prevent manufacturer’s cheating emissions — such as Volkswagen’s scandal, discovered in 2015.
Even stricter emissions requirements are set to be introduced again from 2020, but details of this have yet to be disclosed.
Transport minister Paul Maynard said: “We are taking strong action to clean up our air and these tough new emissions standards will reduce dangerous pollutants.
“This government has led the way in Europe pushing for on-road emissions tests, alongside a tough new laboratory test, to clean up air in our towns and cities.
“This will ensure all vehicles meet rigorous standards when driven on our roads – and we are going even further tightening requirements again in 2020.”
