the European Commission suspects automakers of new manipulations

The car manufacturers are definitely full of resources. The scandal of "dieselgate" had revealed in 2015 that Volkswagen, in particular, rigged its engines to reduce the release of nitrous oxide, a very toxic gas, in the certification tests. This time they are suspected, on the contrary, of "inflating" carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) emissions from their fleets in order to meet future standards.

alert was given by the European Commission. In a letter dated July 18 that Le Monde was able to consult, the European commissioners responsible respectively for climate and energy (Miguel Canete) and industry (Elzbieta Bienkowska) reveal that "Data collected by the authorities of the Member States" showed that manufacturers had voluntarily "inflated" their emission levels.

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From 2021, cars and utilities will undergo a new globally harmonized test called "WLPT" (19459018) Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure ), in place of the current protocol says "NEDC". Main change, the reductions of CO ₂ cars will now be measured in percentage and not in absolute value (gram per kilometer) as is the case today.

The European Union has imposed on manufacturers an objective to reduce CO ₂ emissions by 30% by 2030, and by 15% by 2025. However, these targets will be calculated in relation to the levels of emissions reported by manufacturers in 2020 as part of the current NEDC cycle. Hence the interest of deception.

"Swollen" issues up to 13%

Brussels claims to have accumulated "proofs" . According to data collected by Brussels, releases of CO ₂ would be inflated on average by 4.5% and up to 13%. Specifically, during laboratory tests, the manufacturers would for example have their cars tested with discharged batteries (thus requiring more consumption, and to emit more CO ₂ for it to recharge) or by deactivating the "start & stop" system.

"The 2025 and 2030 targets would be weakened by an inflated starting point", concludes the Commission, which recommends no longer basing calculations on values ​​declared by the manufacturers, but on the levels measured by independent bodies under the new WLTP protocol

"After the dieselgate, the car manufacturers had promised to change and the new tests were the solution. Now, it is clear that they are using them to undermine the new CO standards ₂ believes William Todts, director of the NGO Transport & Environment. They want to comply with it with a minimum of effort to continue to sell diesel and delay the transition to electric cars. »

Manufacturers will be sanctioned if they do not respect the reduction targets set for 2025 and 2030. They are suspected of having agreed not to be penalized in relation to each other, Transport & Environment

Asked by AFP, the German manufacturer BMW "to do everything possible" to reach the ambitious goal set by the EU ensuring compliance with regulatory tools. In France, PSA ensures these measurements "in complete transparency" under the control of independent organizations.