Among the seven cars tested by Green NCAP, in the fourth series of tests of 2023, the electric BYD Act 3 and Ora Funky Cat win the maximum score of five green stars. Green NNCAP also published new results for vehicles with diesel and gasoline engines produced by Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Škoda and Dacia, with the aim of demonstrating that advances with traditional engine technology are still possible. In particular, under the lens of the 'green' examination, in addition to the two Chinese electrics, Mercedes Benz E300d 4Matic and Audi A6 50 TDI quattro diesel, Škoda Kamiq petrol, Dacia Jogger Hybrid and Ford Ranger Raptor petrol passed.
Last year, the Chinese brand BYD was the world's best-selling brand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, but in Europe it is still relatively little known. The Act 3 is a compact SUV with a maximum power of 150 kW and a battery capacity of 60 kWh. The tests showed the excellent energy consumption of the car in low temperature conditions. Charging efficiency, from mains to vehicle battery, at 87%, is average and could have been higher with an optimized charger and battery charge/discharge behavior. Overall, the vehicle achieved an average score of 97% and 5 green stars.
The Ora Funky Cat, produced by Great Wall Motors, is a compact, all-electric family vehicle with a maximum output of 126 kW and a battery capacity of 63 kWh. Mains-to-battery efficiency is 93.2%, a figure never previously recorded in Green NCAP tests. This allows the car to lower its overall consumption values and therefore, with an average score of 97%, the Ora Funky Cat gets 5 green stars. Green NCAP then tested the Mercedes Benz E300d 4Matic station wagon, equipped with a two-liter diesel engine that exploits the efficiency of the powertrain supported by a 48V light hybrid system. High greenhouse gas emissions, however, are not enough for a better result of 1.9 out of 10.
The Clean Air Index is excellent: 9.3 out of 10, which allows the diesel E-Class to become the least polluting combustion car that Green NCAP has tested so far, obtaining an average score of 50% and 3 green stars. The Audi A6 50 Tdi quattro has a three-liter turbocharged diesel engine that provides 210 kW of power. The high mass makes it difficult to keep fuel consumption and CO2 emissions low. However, the car's performance in the Clean Air Index demonstrates low particulate emissions and overall control of other pollutants. Overall, the 50 Tdi quattro achieves an average score of 37% and 2 green stars.
The Škoda Kamiq is a compact SUV with a one-liter turbocharged petrol engine. The energy efficiency index is 5.2, while it scores 3.8 (out of a maximum of 10) in the greenhouse gas index. Overall, Škoda achieves an average score of 53% and 3 green stars. Model 2023 of the Dacia Jogger Hybrid is equipped with a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine. The car scores slightly above average in the Clean Air Index, where results could be improved by better performance particulate control, CO2 control and performance in cold weather conditions. Jogger has an average score of 51% and 3 green stars.
The Ford Ranger Raptor, a three-liter V6 biturbo petrol engine pickup, is approved as a commercial vehicle and, therefore, does not have to meet the same stringent legislative requirements as a normal passenger car. Due to high consumption and CO2 emissions, it does not receive points in the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas indices, while its performance in the Clean Air Index is 3.5 out of 10. The Raptor therefore obtained an average score of 11% and only 1 green star. "Some of the vehicles tested - said Aleksandar Damyanov, Green NCAP technical manager - clearly demonstrate the results obtained by the industry in the search for cleaner and less harmful cars for the climate, even if still powered by conventional engines".
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