Diesel hardware retrofitting “essential” to prevent driving bans in German cities

The General German Automobile Club (ADAC) says it has proof that the mechanical retrofitting of older diesel cars in order to cut air pollution “is not only possible but also highly effective.” The influential car club says that tests carried out by its regional branch in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg have shown that the emissions of diesel cars that meet the previous Euro 5 emissions standard can be reduced by 70 to 90 percent if the vehicles’ hardware is adjusted appropriately. This in turn could reduce pollution in heavily affected cities like Stuttgart by up to 25 percent. The club, which is traditionally associated with the car industry, says it gives “clear priority to protecting the health” of citizens, and calls the mechanical retrofitting of diesel cars “indispensable” for avoiding general driving bans that could result from a ruling, which a German administrative court is scheduled to deliver tomorrow (22 February). “The costs of retrofitting, ranging between 1,400 and 3,300 euros per car, must not be paid by the customers,” the ADAC cautions, adding that financial support by the state should be considered as an option. “In any case, consumer confidence could be strengthened if carmakers make a significant contribution to the costs,” the club says.

Read the press release in German here.

Find background on the diesel technology’s role for clean air and climate in the CLEW article Why the German diesel summit matters for climate and energy.