New database for carbuyers reveals vehicle pollution levels

The AIR Alliance has created a database for car buyers that reveals the levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions created by a particular vehicle.

Covering hundreds of models, the AIR Index details vehicle emissions information and rates each from A (the best) to E (the worst). The database is the result of rigorous on-road testing according to the legal standard method, CWA17379.

The organisation says the AIR Index demonstrates the risk of selecting vehicles based only on the official emissions figures because they are often ‘not detailed enough to identify the cleanest cars.’

For example, they say a Euro 6 vehicle may be clean, or it may be dirty, but the official data does not give enough clarity to differentiate.

While the adoption of battery-electric vehicles (BEV) continues, the AIR Index shows that hybrid vehicles do offer a short-term solution to reducing emissions while other technologies gather pace, including the latest clean and efficient Euro 6 models. However, it also suggests that some older Euro 6 compliant diesels ‘remain part of the problem.’

Nick Molden, co-founder of AIR said: ‘As the world emerges from the impact of Covid-19, legislators, manufacturers and buyers have an opportunity to focus on the cars that will limit the rise in pollution generated by economic recovery.

‘Freely available to everyone, including car makers and policy makers, we want to put valuable information in the hands of those who can effect real change.

‘It’s fitting that on Earth Day, where millions of people would have physically joined together to celebrate 50 years of campaigning for a cleaner climate, we have a trusted online database that can lead to lower emissions right across the globe.’

Currently, European cities are experiencing a drop in air pollutants, including NO_x, as well as CO2_, and lockdowns have significantly reduced vehicle numbers on the road.

With evidence that poor air quality is linked to a faster spread of coronavirus, the AIR Alliance is calling on national governments, regions and cites, as well as the automotive industry to take a pragmatic approach and use this to speed up their route to reduce emissions.

Some examples of popular vehicles rated on the AIR Index are below:

Photo Credit – Pixabay