As of the first of September, new models of petrol and diesel cars must now pass a strict emissions test before being deemed fit to drive of British roads. Vehicles will go from being tested on a rolling road in a lab, to a 90-minute test that will recreate urban, countryside and motorway driving. There will be emissions testing equipment attached to the exhaust pipe of the vehicle during the test. This is designed to prevent car manufacturers from cheating the emissions test after the scandal surrounding Volkswagen’s manipulation of results when using the original sensor testing method.
Last year, the government ran a diesel testing programme and found that the Euro 6 diesel cars were 6 times more nitrogen dioxide out in the real world. The new limits are being enforced after European-wide reforms and are aimed to cut those emissions by two thirds. Additionally, the nitrogen oxide emissions requirements will become stricter in 2020.
Transport minister Paul Maynard has 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.”
