On average, the cars* we tested in the real world used 23% more fuel than in their lab tests. The vehicle which produced the worst result was 59% above the lab test. Only three cars used the same amount of fuel on the road as they did in the lab.
30 cars were tested on a 90-minute real-world testing circuit. The circuit is divided equally into urban, rural and highway conditions
Tests were conducted according to European Commission protocols, adapted for Australian driving conditions and speed limits.
Tests must meet a strict set of requirements for things like vehicle payload, ambient conditions, speed and distance, as well as a specification of stop periods and total duration, or the test must be redone.
Real World Emissions testing is very reliable with an average of 3 percent variation between test results on the same vehicle.
Real-world testing is urgently needed in the Australian car market to ensure consumers and policy makers are basing decisions on real-world performance. Australians are already struggling with cost of living pressures; without better information on the real performance of new cars, they will continue to pay more for fuel and technology than they need to.
Real world testing is already being rolled out overseas. On-road, real-world emissions testing already applies to heavy vehicles in the USA, and is already in place for light vehicles in Europe. Paris and London authorities have also recently announced real world testing programs to improve consumer information.
The AAA is now calling on the Australian Government to introduce a local real-world emissions test program, modelled on the European standard but modified slightly to take into account Australia’s unique conditions.
Real world testing is affordable. For less than $3 per new vehicle sold in Australia, within two years, Australian consumers could have access to real-world testing information for 60% of new cars available on the Australian market. This is a very low-cost way to empower Australians to make better informed choices that suit their family budget, health, and their concern for the environment.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Barnaby Joyce, has said that removing tariffs on safer new vehicles should be seriously considered.
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