There is no future for diesel engines? On the contrary! Modern diesel engines are cleaner than expected and will continue to be an important building block in the future fleet mix.
Do modern diesel engines really comply with the latest NOx limits?
Yes, definitely. Consumers and fleet managers can therefore continue to buy modern diesel engines with a clear conscience. According to ACEA Euro 6d-TEMP diesels significantly undercut NOx limits not only in the laboratory, but also on the road. A recent analysis by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) provides further details: Modern diesel engines of the latest Euro 6d-TEMP exhaust emission standard are, without exception and to a large extent, well below the statutory NOx limits under real driving conditions.
What exactly has been tested and how were these tests conducted?
From September 1st 2019, all new registrations will not only be required to undergo laboratory exhaust gas testing according to the WLTP standard (World Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure), but also to undergo the RDE (Real Driving Emissions) test. The procedure ensures that modern cars with combustion engines comply with the applicable exhaust emission limits both on the test bench and on the road. According to ACEA, 270 diesel cars have already passed not only the WLTP test, but also the RDE test. And with more than good results: The NOx emissions of most of the diesel cars tested were well below the permissible limits. This result is also confirmed by the ADAC Ecotest of September 2018, according to which modern Euro 6d-TEMP diesel engines emit 76 percent less NOx than Euro 6b diesel. According to ADAC*, NOx emissions have been reduced by up to 85 percent compared to Euro 5 diesel engines. By November 2018, the BMW Group had certified around 220 model variants according to the Euro 6d-TEMP standard.
Will modern diesel remain an important component of corporate mobility?
Absolutely. In any case, modern diesel vehicles remain relevant for the mobility mix of the future. For companies in particular, they continue to play an important role in the selection of several drive and mobility alternatives. One thing is clear: for those who drive often and long distances, there is no alternative to diesel in the medium term. With low fuel consumption and low pollutant emissions, modern Euro 6d-TEMP diesel engines are not only ecologically convincing, but also economical. For frequent drivers, they offer the most convincing balance in terms of total cost of ownership for the foreseeable future.
What about fleets with multiple driving profiles, for which diesel engines are not always the optimal solution?
When it comes to other usage scenarios, however, further drive forms and mobility concepts can already play off their advantages today. One example is AlphaCity, Alphabet’s innovative Corporate CarSharing solution. It replaces the company’s own pool car fleet and all associated management processes. As a modern and innovative mobility solution with its online booking tools, as well as keyless access and drive, it forms a flexible and easy type of mobility. AlphaCity vehicles are available at any time for all company members, and the user fee covers all vehicle expenses including fuel costs, making AlphaCity a direct and significant contribution to process and cost optimisation in the fleet. AlphaElectric also provides all-electric support for companies with their electrification strategy – from consulting and vehicle selection to the implementation of the charging infrastructure and other e-mobility services.
How do I find out my individual mobility needs?
Today and in the future, with an increasing number of mobility services, companies are faced with the often difficult question of which mobility strategy is the right one for them. Alphabet provides concrete assistance in answering this question with its holistic Mobility Consulting Tool – MCT for short. Real vehicle data collected via GPS forms the basis for recommendations on reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, electrifying the vehicle fleet, optimising parking costs or introducing a corporate carsharing system, for example. Overall, it also leads to more efficient and cost-optimised fleet management.
Discuss your needs with Alphabet!
If you are faced with the question of which mobility mix is best suited to your company’s individual needs, do not hesitate to contact us. Alphabet's mobility experts will be happy to advise and assist you at any time to put together your own personal mobility package together with you.
*ADAC Ecotest as of September 2018
**Image source: ACEA
