The Australian government is backing a program that will report the real-world environmental performance of new cars and compare it with each vehicle’s lab test result.
Run by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), the Real-World Testing Program will be established through $14 million in funding from the government.
Volkswagen’s actions highlighted how more stringent vehicle emissions standards can encourage car makers to optimise performance for lab tests.
The new funding will see the AAA collect and promote real-world performance data, which will drive down consumer demand for vehicles that fail to deliver promised benefits, and make Australian motoring cleaner and more affordable.
This means Australians families and businesses will be able to make informed decisions about which new cars put the least pressure on the environment and the household budget.
The test will be conducted with prescribed testing protocols based on the European Commission’s Real Driving Emissions test procedure, adapted for Australian driving conditions and speed limits.
More information on the AAA’s Real-World Testing Program can be found at aaa.asn.au/realworld