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Europe’s Move to Real-World Emission Tests Seen Hurting Hybrid Sales
A shift to real-world emission tests in Europe will lower fuel economy ratings for hybrids and plug-ins and reduce their appeal, Automotive News Europe reports.
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A shift to real-world emission tests in Europe will lower fuel economy ratings for hybrids and plug-ins and reduce their appeal, Automotive News Europe reports.
Powertrain consultant Rinaldo Rinolfi tells the online newspaper that current European test methods result in fuel consumption ratings for plug-in hybrids that are 30%-40% lower than what consumers experience on the road. He predicts more realistic test results, coupled with the added cost of hybrid powertrains, will “drastically” reduce the appeal of hybrid options.
The former head of Fiat powertrain engineering also expects Europe’s proportion of diesel car sales will stabilize at 40% by 2020, down from a peak of about 50% in recent years. Rinolfi says the decline is being driven by the higher cost equipping diesels to meet Euro 6 emission standards and not by Volkswagen's diesel cheating scandal.
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