PSA Peugeot Citroen used the recent Geneva motor show to unveil not just new cars, but a new system for judging the fuel economy and emissions of those cars.
Developed in conjunction with environmental lobbying groups Transport & Environment and France Nature Environment, the new tests were conducted on three Peugeot and Citroen vehicles on roads in and around the Paris region.
In order to make them as realistic as possible, both extra passengers and luggage were carried in the cars, and roads with gradients were used.
Air conditioning systems were also switched on, and instead of the brief tests carried out in laboratories under the official fuel economy testing regime, here the cars covered 25.5km of urban route, 39.7km of extra-urban and 31.1km of motorway.
PSA claims it is the first car maker to adopt and publish testing figures in this way, and the figures themselves make for interesting reading.
Accurate
Based on the European Union’s Real Driving Emissions project, the PSA set-up measures fuel consumption by means of a portable emissions measurement system installed on the vehicle.
Bureau Veritas, an independent and internationally respected body, oversaw the design of the test, ensuring it was conducted in line with specifications and that the results were as accurate and reliable as possible. The Peugeot 308 tested, a 1.6 BlueHDi 120hp model in Allure specification, recorded combined consumption of 5.0 litres per 100km, or 56.4mpg. That compares with an average of 5.1 litres per 100km among a group of customers PSA canvassed for average observed fuel economy figures to give the test a baseline.
Citroen’s C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 BlueHDI 120hp scored 5.6 litres per 100km (50.4mpg) against observed customer numbers of 5.7 litres per 100km, while a DS 3 .6 BlueHDI 120hp scored 4.9 litres per 100km (57.6mpg), against observed customer mileage of 5.3 litres per 100km.
By way of comparison, the Peugeot 308 1.6 BlueHDI 120hp records official combined fuel consumption of 3.1 litres per 100km, or 91mpg. A Citroen C4 Grand Picasso’s combined fuel consumption with the same engine is 4.0 litres per 100km (70mpg), while the DS 3 1.6 BlueHDI scores 3.6 litres per 100km (78mpg).
Validated
Gilles Le Borgne
, executive vice-president of PSA’s research & development, said: “As announced in late 2015, after working with Transport & Environment, France Nature Environment and Bureau Veritas, the procedure has now been validated and the initial results are consistent with customer- reported consumption data”.
Greg Archer, clean vehicles director at Transport & Environment, said: "The test developed with PSA Peugeot Citroen is reproducible and representative. It confirms the fuel consumption of a tested model by a typical driver in real-world driving conditions.
“This test proves that the on-road tests are reliable and can be used to measure real CO2 emissions. This should become the benchmark for all car makers advertising their vehicles’ fuel efficiency.”
Michel Dubromel, vice-chairman of France Nature Environment, added: "The proactive approach taken by PSA Peugeot Citroën reflects total transparency on CO2 emissions and is set to continue for other pollutants. It's our response to people's legitimate concerns about public health."
Innovative
Marc Boissonnet
, executive vice-president, marketing, sales and communication at Bureau Veritas, said: “The initiative, based on co-operation between a manufacturer, an NGO and a certification organisation, is both innovative and constructive. It meets all the conditions for addressing issues that may be raised by consumers.
“PSA Peugeot Citroen has done what was necessary to ensure an independent and credible verification that can set the standard for the automotive industry.”
