Dieselgate: ICCT, 2.6 million suspect cars in Italy

In Italy there are an estimated 2.6 million cars circulating with suspicious levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Of these, 1.9 million have extreme emissions levels and almost certainly use an emissions manipulation device. This is the complaint of the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the organization behind the 2015 Dieselgate scandal, which has published a new report on the ‘reassessment of the excess NOx from European diesel cars’. In the EU and UK, the ICCT estimates that there are 19 million vehicles with suspect emissions and 13 million vehicles with extreme emissions in use.

The analysis by the ICCT, from which the complaint that triggered the scandal the following year started in 2014, is based on the results of tests and market surveillance interviews conducted by regulators to understand how many vehicle models they could have manipulation devices. The focus is on Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel cars produced before the adoption of real driving tests (2017).

According to the ICCT surveys, suspicious NOx emission levels were detected in 77% of the tests, with probable use of a prohibited defeat device. Extreme levels of emissions were found in 40% of tests, with almost certain presence of a prohibited defeat device. According to the study, more than 200 vehicle models tested also show high NOx emissions, exceeding the threshold defined as “suspicious”. And 150 vehicle models show emissions exceeding the threshold defined as “extreme”. From 2009 to 2019, the ICCT points out, around 53 million Euro 5 and Euro 6 certified diesel cars were sold in Europe. Most of them are still in operation and continue to emit high levels of NOx.

Source: Ansa

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