PSA Peugeot Citroen commits to publishing real-world fuel consumption figures
PSA Peugeot Citroen has announced it will have its new vehicles independent assessed and publish real-world emissions and fuel consumption figures across its entire range.
PSA PEUGEOT CITROEN has announced it will publish real-world fuel consumption figures “as soon as possible” across its entire range as car makers go on the front foot to win back consumer confidence in the wake of the VW diesel emissions scandal.
In a statement announcing its commitment to publishing real-world emissions and fuel efficiency figures, PSA Peugeot Citroen said: “Regarding emissions, PSA confirms that its vehicles have never been fitted with any software or device that detects emissions testing and triggers a pollution treatment system, including for nitrogen oxides (NOx), that is inactive in normal driving conditions. The Group stresses that its vehicles are compliant and that 4300 vehicles were selected at random off its production lines in 2014 to verify compliance with type approval”.
The French car maker also went onto discuss some of its achievements in emissions reductions and fuel efficiency achievements, like its “BlueHDi” Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology which runs across all its diesel Euro6 passenger vehicles (now in Australia). This exhaust treatment system, for which “PSA holds around 100 patents”, is widely considered to be the most effective NOx treatment.
“Regarding fuel efficiency, PSA emphasizes its leadership in the field, which is underpinned by its recent technological advances such as the EB PureTech gasoline engine (voted engine of the year in 2015 in its category), Blue HDi diesel technology, high-performance automatic transmissions, and lighter platforms.
“The current European approval test NEDC, which dates from 1992, is widely recognised as not reflecting real-world driving. Like any laboratory test, it gives rise to optimisations, including at PSA, which the regulators are aware of but which have been criticized by independent bodies and other observers. These optimisations, including unequal electrical energy balance (battery charge levels, alternator use, etc.), will no longer be accepted by the new test (WLTP) currently under discussion at the European level. PSA stresses that it fully supports the introduction in 2017 of this new standard (WLTP and RDE), which more accurately represents real-world conditions.”
Expect other car makers to follow suit with commitments to publishing real-world emissions and fuel consumption data. It looks like a whole new business opportunity has opened up for universities and independent environmental assessment teams around emissions and fuel efficiency testing in the real-world with mobile pollution capture gear.
