IFP Énergies nouvelles has studied the polluting emissions of twenty-two vehicles at the request of the government. The results are amazing.
Why are we talking about diesel again?
Because a study by IFP Énergies nouvelles sheds interesting light on this engine. It has been contested since the Volkswagen software rigged scandal in 2015. But does diesel really pollute more than gasoline? It is sometimes doubtful when reading the results of research carried out on twenty-two recent vehicles, gasoline, diesel and hybrids.
What does the study conclude?
Commissioned by the government, this report should measure whether vehicles registered after September 2019 comply with the standard that came into force on that date, known as “Euro 6d”. The answer is yes, with a few exceptions. Some diesel vehicles are singled out, not equipped with urea injection (AdBlue) in their pollution control system, or gasoline without particulate filter.
Who pollutes the most, diesel or gasoline?
It depends on the pollutant. Gasoline consumes more fuel (+1.5 liters per 100 kilometers) than diesel. “This leads to CO emissions2 (carbon dioxide) 11% higher ‘ to those of diesel, write the researchers. Gasoline therefore has a greater impact than diesel on global warming.
What about diesel?
It produces four times more NOx (nitrogen oxides) than gasoline. Now they are “Harmful to health”, emphasize the researchers. To protect city dwellers, the government therefore maintains its refusal to classify diesel, even the least polluting, in the Crit’Air 1 sticker. This sesame, which allows circulation in particular during population peaks, remains the preserve of gasoline.
What is the problem ?
Reading the study shows that gasoline is no less harmful to the health of urban dwellers. It emits three times more fine particles, in addition “Smaller than those emitted by diesel vehicles”. Which since 2011 are compulsorily equipped with a particulate filter.
As for plug-in hybrids, also classified Crit’Air 1, they are not a panacea either. They produce little carbon dioxide when their batteries are properly recharged. But when they are no longer, they emit almost as much as a thermal vehicle.
– .
