THIRTY MODELS PUT EMISSIONS TO THE TEST
The parent company of the Peugeot, Citroen and DS brands, Groupe PSA, has expanded on the “real world” fuel consumption analysis programme launched last year, with fresh details on 30 of its core models.
The company claims the move as the first large-scale co-operation between a car maker and an independent body for the analysis of listed fuel economy figures.
The programme involves a test procedure developed with non-governmental organisations Transport & Environment (T&E) and France Nature Environnement (FNE).
The results of the tests are then audited by testing and verification company Bureau Veritas.
In March this year, the company released the results of real-world analysis of three current models: the Peugeot 308 Allure, the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Exclusive and the DS 3 So Chic.
Groupe PSA last week handed down the latest verified results for 30 core models ac three brands: Peugeot, Citroen and the new luxury marque DS. All 30 vehicles were tested to a schedule that is based on the European Union’s Real Driving Emissions (RDE) project, using a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) attached to the vehicle.
The tests took in 25km of urban driving, 39km in rural environments and 31km of cruising on motorways. To emulate real-world conditions, the vehicles were carrying passengers and luggage, with the air-conditioning systems running. As with earlier tests, the results were compared with figures from customer surveys to confirm the programme is “scientifically robust, reproducible and representative of a typical driver”.
In comparison to official figures confirmed on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) — the current standard for fuel figures in European markets — the overall data shows differences of between 1.5 to 2.6L/100km for Citroen models, 1.2 to 2.7L/100km for Peugeot models and 1.4 to 1.7L/100km for the three DS models listed. The tests were based on models offered in Europe, with equipment and specifications relevant to those markets.
-caradvice.com.au