Lasting legacy of VW diesel scandal: EU gets serious about testing

Volkswagen Plant, Wolfsburg, Germany (photo by Richard Bartz)The Volkswagen diesel scandal left lasting imprints on the entire automotive industry, and may have changed the way regulators look at vehicles using the fuel forever. That's true not just in the United States, but elsewhere as well. The European Union is now increasing its efforts to make sure a scandal like Volkswagen's can never happen again...

European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-Mar 2017

Longer-range Renault Zoe electric car, introduced at 2016 Paris Motor ShowThe first quarter of 2017 is now behind us, which means we get to take a peek at the European plug-in electric vehicle sale numbers. The year-to-date numbers show a significant growth in sales for most electric models, according to the recent European Alternative Fuels Observatory report. The Renault Zoe remains the top seller across the continent...

Newest, cleanest diesels in Europe can still be very dirty: analysis

Volkswagen TDI diesel vehicles owned by Phil Grate and family, Seattle, WashingtonIt has become increasingly more evident that carmakers must take aggressive steps to ensure that diesel cars and light trucks meet current environmental regulations. Tests done by Emissions Analytics found that the majority of new diesel-powered cars sold in Europe do not meet the Euro 6 emission standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx) in real-world...

London to charge pre-2006 diesel cars $27 to enter on weekdays

Mark Webber driving a 2016 Porsche 919 Hybrid in LondonFor more than 13 years, London has collected a stiff charge from motor vehicles entering the congested core of the city during weekday business hours. Known as the congestion charge, the fee of £11.50 a day, or $14.50 (£10 with automatic payment, or $12.50) is levied from 6 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday except holidays. First...

EU cracks down as diesel scandal exposes lax tests country by country

Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) on a Peugeot 308The Volkswagen diesel scandal has led to much greater scrutiny on the methods regulatory agencies use to test vehicle emissions, particularly in Europe. Even before news of Volkswagen's diesel "defeat device" software broke, the European fuel-economy testing cycle was known to be overly optimistic, producing results that buyers could not replicate...

Could an EU switch to on-road emission tests allow more pollution?

2016 Renault Clio RSThe Volkswagen diesel scandal convinced European regulators to switch from laboratory emissions testing to tests that involve actual, on-road driving. This could prevent automakers from deploying "defeat device" software like the kind used by VW on laboratory tests, as well as produce results that more closely align with what consumers can expect...

Emission debate in Europe: should new EU agency test, or each nation?

Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) on a Peugeot 308The Volkswagen diesel scandal has brought increased scrutiny on how new cars are tested for emissions and fuel economy. VW's use of "defeat device" software to cheat on laboratory emissions tests could cause regulators to put greater emphasis on on-road emissions testing. But, in Europe at least, there is some debate about which entity will...

India, EU ratify Paris climate agreement: takes effect next month

Hyundai ix35 (Tucson) Fuel Cell Paris taxiLast December, representatives form 195 countries met in Paris to negotiate an agreement to address climate change on a global scale. Almost a year later, enough countries have now formally ratified that agreement in order that it can officially take effect. The tipping point was reached when India and the 28 members of the European Union ratified...

German upper house asks EU to ban all gas, diesel cars by 2030

2016 BMW M2 production in Leipzig, GermanyLast week, the German Federal Council adopted a bipartisan measure that would ban all internal-combustion engines on German roads after 2030. While its actions only apply within Germany, language in the measure asks the European Union to ensure that all such cars are banned within the EU after that year at the latest. Type approval for road...

Every diesel brand in Europe emits more than VW, says new report

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDIIt's been a year since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that Volkswagen used illegal "defeat device" software that allowed its diesel cars to cheat emissions tests. The VW diesel scandal may be just the beginning, though. Because while Volkswagen continues to negotiate with regulators and customers in the U.S., it seems that...

Every diesel brand in Europe emits more than VW, says new report

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDIIt's been a year since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that Volkswagen used illegal "defeat device" software that allowed its diesel cars to cheat emissions tests. The VW diesel scandal may be just the beginning, though. Because while Volkswagen continues to negotiate with regulators and customers in the U.S., it seems that...