ROME – It is not easy to achieve the maximum score in the new “Green Ncap” tests. The independent body, of which Aci is a partner, has just revealed the first round of tests involving six models. Well, among these, only the Audi Q4 e-tron achieved the maximum score, or 5 stars, and as foreseen in the new protocol, it qualified for additional evaluation tests. The 100% electric luxury SUV of the house of the four rings, according to Green Ncap experts, achieved good scores in all three evaluation categories (harmful emissions, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions), showing some critical issues only in the tests in a cold environment and on the motorway. The Volkswagen Caddy 1.5 TSI obtained 2.5 stars, but its “Clean Air Index” would have been higher if there had been better control of ammonia emissions. Same score for the Hyundai Bayon hybrid and the Renault Kangoo TCe 130, which was penalized due to its high energy consumption and high greenhouse gas production, while the Peugeot 308 1.2 PureTech stopped at 2 stars. Finally, Genesis’ luxury sport utility vehicle, the petrol-powered GV70, had to settle for only one star, due to high fuel consumption and inadequate emissions control.
It should be noted that since 2022 the Green Ncap assessment criteria have been updated with the test protocols and the classification scheme adapted to better adapt to rapidly evolving technologies and “new” sustainability trends. “Until now, our evaluations only concerned those from tank to wheel – explained Aleksandar Damyanov, technical director of the program – while the new Green Ncap procedure is based on a more complete Well-to-Wheel + evaluation, to which we add that relating to greenhouse gas emissions. The new Well-to-Wheel + classification, including greenhouse gas emissions, provides a much more realistic assessment of the environmental impact of cars, of all types of engines, combustion, electric or hybrid. With this new approach we hope to make it clear that for a car it is not only important to emit and consume little, but that the entire construction process must be sustainable. This is why we are working on a new holistic methodology based on the life cycle (Life Cycle Assessment – Lca), of which we have recently provided some advances “. In short, obtaining the coveted 5 stars, a source of pride and pride for car manufacturers, is becoming, rightly, more and more difficult.