Do you know that a Euro 6 diesel car is significantly less clean – and very likely to breach emissions regulations in the real world – than a Euro 6 coach, bus or minibus?
Probably not, and neither does the general public, politicians or policy makers.
The reason for the difference is that lab-testing continues for cars, while heavy-duty diesel vehicles use real-world testing.
Volkswagen’s ‘dieselgate’ emissions testing scandal has done us all a favour by raising the profile of testing regimes. The flip side is that many people assume that the issue only applies to older cars.
It’s a message that UK policy-makers must grasp as the deadline for setting up clean air zones (CAZs) approaches.
The policy of not upsetting car drivers – while applying CAZ standards to trucks, coaches and buses only – means there will be no improvement in air quality.
This week German courts have ruled that its cities can ban diesel cars to tackle air pollution. In France there is speculation that the whole country could become a giant CAZ.
This comes after the entire Department of Drôme (roughly half the size of East Anglia) says that during high air pollution – especially acute in France during the winter – CAZ restrictions will be applied. Like the UK, French cities have to present CAZ plans by the end of March.
Our industry now needs to take advantage of the benefits, during this small window of political opportunity.
