VOLKSWAGEN MD MICHAEL BARTSCHE has never been backward when it comes to speaking his mind. The release this morning by auto importers of the first annual CO2 Voluntary Emissions Standard results prompted him to warn Australians that they reside in the “automotive third world”.
“Such is the reluctance of government to countenance carbon emissions reduction targets, auto importers are obliged to implement self-regulation,” he said.
Mr Bartsch is also deputy chair of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, which released this morning’s CO2 report.
“Australia is becoming a dumping ground for older and less efficient vehicles,” he continued.
“Even some of the popular hybrids on sale in this country utilise old tech engines that run on Australia’s standard 91RON petrol with 150 parts per million of sulphur – 15 times worse than global best practice.”
Almost all Volkswagens currently on sale meet the Euro 6 standards that will not be mandated locally until 2027, 13 years after Europe.
Mr Bartsch said that official inertia was not confined to carbon emissions. The adverse health and environmental effects of high sulphur petrol continue to be ignored.
“Australia’s backwardness in terms of both CO2 and sulphur standards means our country is becoming a tip for technology that is no longer acceptable elsewhere,” he said. “Unless a CO2 reduction target is set, manufacturers will continue to prioritise modern markets both for zero emission vehicles and the most efficient conventional engines.
“Markets where there are targets to meet and punitive fines if they don’t are naturally first in line for zero emissions vehicles.”
Australia’s sub-standard fuel already prevents the importation of the newest petrol engines and the widespread introduction of engines with petrol particulate filters.
“Australian diesel has had a limit of 10 parts per million of sulphur since 2009. It is incredible that Euro 6 and 10ppm petrol will not be mandated in Australia until 2027.”
“Today 50ppm is the ‘best’ sulphur level that can be guaranteed in petrol and that is only in costly premium unleaded. Most petrol sold in Australia is rated 150ppm.”
“It is scandalous that motorists are forced to pay a premium for so-called ‘premium’ petrol of up 25 cents per litre over 91RON. Europe-sourced vehicles cannot reliably run on the latter, so effectively owners of the most efficient conventional vehicles on sale in this country are penalised for emitting less. This is on top of the outdated five percent tariff to which European cars are subject.”
“Because fuel policy appears to be dictated by the remaining oil refiners, Australians are stuck with fuel quality rated at 84th in the world for another six years. Meanwhile low sulphur 10ppm petrol is being refined and sold in New Zealand. It is the standard throughout much of our region, Europe and North America.”
Mr Bartsch said that VGA has been among the importers that pushed for FCAI’s CO2 Voluntary Emissions Standard despite acknowledging that the first set of annual results would not show the brand to its best advantage.
“The results are essentially split into passenger cars and SUVs with a separate category for commercial vehicles and larger SUVs,” he said.
“Because of the increased difficulties Volkswagen faces in obtaining the latest engines, our Commercial Vehicles arm is only now able to introduce its new four-cylinder ranges. Just as Volkswagen’s passenger vehicles performed better than the designated target in the 2020 results, so too will its van and ute range from this year.”
Volkswagen last month concluded a 30,000km Australian test drive in three new generation Volkswagen Caddy vans in order to assess the availability and the effects of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol on a new 1.5 litre engine. These findings will be released shortly.