Motorhomes targeted for excessive exhaust fumes
Despite the pandemic, or perhaps because of it, the motorhome market is growing. But when it comes to exhaust gases, not all motorhomes comply with the legal limits. Two Fiat Ducato caravan models were found to have significantly increased pollutant emissions. Is there a threat of driving bans?
Already a year ago, the German Environmental Aid (DUH) and the Emissions Control Institute (EKI) pointed out to the Ministry of Transport that two models of the manufacturer Fiat systematically exceed the limit values for nitrogen oxide (NOx). These are the models Fiat Ducato 150 Multijet (Weinsberg Caraloft) and Fiat Ducato 130 Multijet (Hobby K60), registered according to Euronorm 6b. Elevated values were also measured this year. In this year's measurements, the values for the first model were 11 times higher than the permitted limit of 125mg nitrogen oxide per kilometre. The second model exceeded the values by a factor of 8. There is a simple way to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions: retrofitting a catalytic converter. Therefore, the nitrogen oxide emissions of retrofitted motor homes were also measured. When retrofitting a Fiat Ducato 130 Multijet Dethleffs Globebus with an SCR catalytic converter, the nitrogen oxide emissions of the Euro 5 registered vehicle dropped to 18 mg/km. The limit value here is 280 mg/km. The Fiat Ducato 140 Multijet Sunlight V66 model with SCR catalytic converter was also well below the limit value.
However, the then Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CDU) did nothing. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has also remained inactive so far, although it has confirmed that the limit values were exceeded. Motorhome owners who think they are driving clean are being cheated. All other road users are exposed to increased nitrogen oxide emissions. DUH has now called on the new Minister of Transport, Wissing (FDP), to hold the market leader Fiat accountable, recall the affected motorhomes and have them retrofitted. Otherwise, the risk of driving bans increases, because with vehicles that cheat on exhaust emissions, air pollution does not decrease, but continues to increase.