New real-world data on vehicle emissions will allow revitalisation of an automotive industry and global economy devastated by the COVID-19 outbreak but with cleaner air and reduced impact on climate change.
The AIR Index at airindex.com identifies the cleanest cars to give buyers confidence to switch to cleaner vehicles and restore the automotive industry badly impacted by the pandemic.
The freely available ratings database is the result of rigorous on-road testing according to the legal standard method, CWA17379. It details real-world nitrogen oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – important pollutants that are measured to assess air quality and climate change.
It shows that clean and efficient vehicles, which have low NOx and low CO2 emissions already exist, without having to wait for new technology at scale.
The AIR Index data can allow the revitalisation of the industry but also lock in the improved air quality that has been a result of the global lockdown.
Published by the AIR Alliance (AIR), the AIR Index demonstrates the risk of selecting vehicles based only on the official emissions figures that are not detailed enough to identify the cleanest cars. A Euro 6 vehicle may be clean, or it may be dirty, but the official data do not give enough clarity to differentiate.
Some examples of popular vehicles rated on the AIR Index:
Model | NOx emissions (mg/km) | Air Index NOx Rating | CO2 emissions (g/km) | Air Index CO2 rating | Comment |
2019 Peugeot Partner 1.6-litre diesel | 0-80 | A | 130-180 | C | Best-selling light van |
2019 Renault Clio 1.0- litre petrol | 0-80 | A | 130-180 | C | Popular Supermini – latest petrol variant |
2018 Renault Clio 1.5-litre diesel | 80-168 | B | 95-130 | B | Popular Supermini – diesel variant |
2020 Kia Sportage 1.6-litre diesel hybrid (MHEV) | 0-80 | A | 130-180 | C | Best-selling SUV model -mild hybrid variant |
2020 Kia Sportage 1.6-litre petrol | 0-80 | A | 180-230 | D | Best-selling SUV model -petrol variant |
2019 Kia Sportage 1.6-litre diesel | 0-80 | A | 130-180 | C | Best-selling SUV model – diesel variant |
2018 VW Passat 2.0-litre diesel | 80-168 | B | 130-180 | C | Popular family saloon – diesel variant |