This week, AK EUROPA, the European Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation ÖGB, and the European Consumers' Organisation BEUC invited to an event in Brussels, which dealt with fuel and emission tests for cars.

Following the so-called “VW scandal”, the discussion on fuel consumption and the emission output of cars has reached its peak. At the centre is the gulf between the data of manufacturers and the real consumption/output of their products as well as the debate as to how to proceed. That is why on Tuesday a number of experts and lobbyists gathered to discuss the issue in Brussels.

Frederic Simon (EurActiv) hosted the event and welcomed the first speaker, Karin Kadenbach (MEP, S&D, ENVI), who immediately came to the point by addressing the massive impact of high emission values on people and the environment.

Günther Lichtblau (Federal Environment Agency) presented his new study, he co-prepared on behalf of AK Wien, which deals with “Passenger Car Emissions: Standard and Real-World Fuel Consumption”. The authors based their study on the observations of 30 vehicle models, which were most frequently registered in Austria between years 2000-2013. The results are alarming as the gap between manufacturer data and the real value continued to rise between 2000 and 2013 from 7% to 27%.

Independent, effective tests and transparency can't come quickly enough

All participants on the panel agreed. The tests for type approval have to be carried out by independent institutions; they must not be ordered and paid for by manufacturers. Also important is the independent control after vehicles have been registered. Apart from that, the system of testing is too opaque, that is why more transparency was demanded. It has to be noted at this point that no representative of the automobile industry was present in the plenum to answer questions or to address requirements of his/her customers and their representatives.

The hope lies now with the new road tests, which shall be introduced from 2017 and 2019 respectively. Karin Kadenbach pointed out how important real values would be to have any chance of planning ahead and continuing to work on the problem. One was not happy with regard to the new limits, which would apply until then (the AK already reported on this), as they would undermine the current limits. However, it would be a step in the right direction towards the introduction of RDE tests.

It is not a question of technical possibilities; it is a question of money

Sylvia Leodolter (AK Wien) pointed out that adhering to consumption and emission limits would be technically feasible; the problem was that manufacturers wanted to save money. Car manufacturers would emphasise that limits would be too high and unachievable, but the USA would manage to observe them, remarked Greg Archer of NGO Transport & Environment. After all, it was not “rocket science” to produce clean cars.

Alternatives were dealt with in the ongoing debate. To buy a smaller car or in general to use public transport instead is certainly a contribution, consumers could and should make. However, it must be possible that they can rely on manufacturers to provide them with the correct information. A move towards alternatives is no option if manufacturers ignore the rights of consumers. Not to forget the fact that consumers have already massively paid for this fraud: with their private finances and higher tax as well as with their health.

No industry bashing: consumers are also employees

In particular, Karin Kadenbach and Sylvia Leodolter pointed out that the issue was not to name and shame individual manufacturers or even an entire industry. It was far more important to create clarity in order to make constructive plans for the future and to find solutions.

What also had to be considered was the fact that many consumers are also employees and a considerable number of them would work in the automobile industry. Hence, the frequent reply of manufacturers is that the adherence to limits might lead to job losses. Monique Goyens (BEUC) called this a surreal argument in her final comment. Consumers losing trust was also damaging, because it would have a negative impact on the market.

To ensure that our consumers and all of us can regain trust, it is important to observe their/our rights: to ensure access to correct information and the adherence to laws, which protect our health and existence. Events like this one by the AK, as well as the study it commissioned, are impulses in the right direction as they bring clarity in this still intransparent field.

Further information:

Images of the event

AK EUROPA: What kind of emission tests will follow after the VW scandal?

AK: Car fuel consumption values: right of consumers to fair information is a must (German only)

AK: Economy and Environment. New cars: The misled public (German only)