One in five cars may be producing excess emissions

22% of all vehicles on UK roads give out excessive emissions, new research commissioned by law firm Leigh Day suggests. 

The research, which was conducted by Emissions Analytics suggests that 17,900 tonnes of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are emitted each year on UK roads in excess of European regulatory limits, 89% of which comes from diesel vehicles built under Euro 5 and 6 regulations from around 2009 to 2014.

Without this excess, the NOx emissions from vehicles produced under Euro 5 and 6 regulations would be just 9,500 tonnes.

Previously it was believed that diesel vehicles were a cleaner option for roads because they emitted lower carbon dioxide levels than petrol vehicles.

However, following a series of revelations about cheat device software fitted to diesel vehicles it became clear that dangerous levels of nitrogen oxide were polluting Britain’s roads.

The cheat-device software ensures that affected vehicles release pollutants at permitted levels during emissions testing, but out on the roads, in real-world driving conditions, NOx is pumped out at levels way higher than the legal limit.

Based on these findings, Leigh Day is calling for urgent Government action to enforce regulations on the car companies strictly, since it has become clear that emissions defeat device software has been fitted to millions of diesel vehicles.

Leigh Day partner Shazia Yamin, said: ‘The impact of Nitrogen Oxide on all of us is a huge scandal.

‘Whilst countries seek to maintain safe levels of air pollution for the good of the environment, our health, and the health of our children, this is all rendered meaningless if car manufacturers can get away with seeking ways to dodge these regulations without more severe penalties.’

In related news, earlier ths year, law firm Leigh Day announced that they were investigating Jaguar Land Rover over claims that their vehicles have been fitted with emissions cheat devices.

There are believed to be 365,000 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles potentially affected by emissions cheat devices.

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