Real or not real? RDE tests can still favour ideal conditions over reality

Publication date: 1st September 2017

In response to the introduction of Real World Emissions (RDE) tests and VW’s new scrappage scheme, Anna Jones, UK Clean Air Campaigner at Greenpeace, said:

“There are serious doubts about new RDE tests reflecting the kind of driving most people do. Companies can use results from any time of day, avoiding rush hour, on even roads with little or no traffic, skewing readings far more towards ideal rather than real.

“Car companies are clinging to diesel despite its catastrophic impacts on people’s health but the only ‘real’ way to tackle emissions is for companies to invest in electric or hybrid-only cars.

“VW may have announced a scrappage scheme today but this is really a job for Government considering how untrustworthy car companies, and particularly VW, have already proved themselves to be by gaming tests and lobbying for years to water down regulations. If VW was truly serious about tackling air pollution, it would ditch diesel altogether.

“A central scrappage scheme is the most transparent way of ensuring car companies come clean and a really progressive scheme would help kick start the shift to electric. For maximum take up it should offer credits for car sharing or public transport, as a lower-cost alternative for those who need it the most.”

For more information, contact press.uk@greenpeace.org or call 020 7865 8255.