Wales may ban diesels after VW emissions scandal
Wales Online has reported that diesel vehicles could be banned in the country to ensure it meets air pollution targets following the VW emissions scandal. The British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) warned that Cardiff, and some large English cities, could face restrictions on pre-2015 diesels by 2020. Apparently Defra officials revealed this was based on a computer model that assumes new models will meet the required emissions limits. However, if they do not, then action will be required in three Welsh regions, identified only as Cardiff and one region each in North and South Wales.

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Diesel vehicles could be banned in Wales to ensure it meets air pollution targets following the VW emissions scandal, it's been warned.

Officials warned that the industry’s failure to build vehicles that comply with emissions rules mean most urban areas will break EU pollution limits for years if diesels are not kept out.

Last month, the UK Government department for environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) warned that Cardiff, and England’s big cities, could face restrictions on pre-2015 diesels by 2020.

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In a background report, Defra officials revealed this was based on a computer model that assumes new models will meet the limits.

If they don’t then action will be required in three areas in Wales. Those are Cardiff and two dubbed only “North Wales” and “South Wales.”

Nitrogen dioxide emissions too high

The background report said: “The road transport emissions modelled in this document are based on the latest evidence of vehicle NOx (nitrogen dioxide) emissions.

“However, there have been issues with the European test cycles not accurately reflecting real world performance and emissions.

“This has resulted in NOx emissions of diesel cars in actual driving conditions being significantly higher than the European standards would otherwise suggest.”

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Volkswagen’s rigging emissions tests for 11m cars means they may be responsible for nearly 1m tonnes of air pollution every year. That is the same as the UK’s combined emissions for all power stations, vehicles, industry and agriculture.

Even brand new diesels emit four times more NOx on the road than in the lab.

Poisonous NO2 – the nitrogen dioxide part of emissions – is higher than in earlier models of cars.

(Image: South Wales Echo)

“While emerging data indicates that the European test cycle results are becoming closer to real world performance, there is still disparity,” the background report said.

“In order to reflect the current issues in road transport emission factors for Euro 6 diesel vehicles, an alternative scenario is modelled assuming that the actual emissions are higher than currently predicted.”

Euro 6 is the latest engine emission standard set by the European Union.

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Evidence from measurement systems showed if these standards were not met “it could result in up to 22 additional zones being non-compliant in 2020.”

Previously the figure across Britain was eight. This brings the total to 30.

“Given this, it is clear that the performance of emissions standards going forward will have a significant impact on the efforts to reduce NO2 concentrations,” the document said.

Improvements already made

The Welsh Government insisted “improvements” had been made in air quality.

“There are still some areas where more action is needed to meet these EU limits,” a spokesman said.

“We have produced new draft air quality plans for these areas to show how we intend to meet these limits and have launched a joint consultation with Defra and the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland to seek views on the proposed approach.”

It claimed that by 2020 three of four zones breaking emission limits would be compliant.

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“Only a section of road, not more than 500 metres in length, will remain the only location within Wales which is predicted to exceed the limit value,” the spokesman said.

It is understood that this is part of the A48 that leads onto Cardiff’s Western Avenue.

The spokesman said: “The Welsh Government will continue to work towards further improvement and, in particular, with relevant stakeholders to develop additional measures to achieve nationwide compliance before 2020.

Choking on illegal levels of fumes

Alan Andrews, of campaigning environmental law group ClientEarth, said the government had “admitted that air pollution kills over 50,000 people a year.

“Much of this is down to pollution from road transport and especially diesel vehicles.”

He said people in Wales “will be choking on illegal levels of diesel fumes until 2025 without further action.”

“Thousands of people will die or be made seriously ill as a result,” Mr Andrews said.

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“We want to see a national network of clean air zones to keep the most polluting diesel vehicles out of our polluted town and city centres.

“We all have the right to breathe clean air – Client Earth has been fighting a five year legal battle to uphold that right and we are quite prepared to go back to court again.

“Westminster needs to work with the devolved administrations to come up with a plan to deliver clean air for everyone in the UK.”

Cardiff Council declined to comment.