Particle emissions from petrol cars
Vehicle tests show that without the use of gasoline particulate filters (GPF) the number of particles emitted from gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines is likely to exceed future European emissions limits, known as Euro 6 standards.
Nowadays, particle emissions from these new petrol engines are higher than equivalent diesel vehicles. The cost of a filter to eliminate particle emissions is low (around €40), with no fuel economy penalty. Despite this, carmakers are delaying fitting filters on GDI cars and instead rely on manipulating tests. Their reluctance is worsening urban air pollution and reducing the health benefits of the new limits.
Air pollution in the EU is estimated to contribute to 406,000 deaths annually and cause over 100 million lost days of work, costing the EU economy €330-940 billion per year. Small particles in the air pose the greatest risk to health, penetrating deep into the lungs and being absorbed into the blood, causing a range of illnesses and even death. T&E calls upon carmakers to ensure GDI cars minimize their particle emissions by fitting filters.
Related Articles
View All
Joint letter on low-carbon steel credits in the review of EU CO₂ emission standards for cars
Creating predictable demand for genuinely low-carbon steel is urgent. If properly designed, low-carbon steel credits can create a lead market for gree...
Drive forward or turn back? Four reasons to vote for a strong automotive package
The coming weeks will be crucial for the future of the EU's car and van CO₂ standards and Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation — a choice that will sha...
The zombie engine: How Brussels bureaucrats are breathing false life into combustion
If you poured rapeseed oil into a combustion engine and declared it a "zero-emission vehicle," you would be laughed at. But in the EU Parliament, this...