Green NCAP asks industry for more sustainable innovations for ICE vehicles
Green NCAP
Today, Green NCAP releases its latest set of ratings that include the electric BYD SEAL U, petrol-powered Kia Ceed, electric Kia EV6, diesel-fuelled Peugeot 308, electric Toyota bZ4X, and the petrol Volkswagen Taigo. The all-electric vehicles (EVs) in the line-up achieve the maximum score of five stars, raising the question of what technological innovations can ensure internal combustion engines (ICE) also remain viable in a world that demands cleaner, more sustainable transportation.
Known for its commitment to sustainability through its leadership in hybrid technology, Toyota’s first dedicated electric SUV, the bZ4X, easily leads the pack with an almost perfect result of 5 Green Stars and an Average Score of 97%. The SUV delivers impressive scores across all environmental categories, particularly in efficiency with a good grid-to-battery-output result of 90.4%, a value slightly above the average of Green NCAP’s tested EV fleet. With no tailpipe emissions, the bZ4X is a desirable choice for consumers seeking family vehicles with a minimal impact on the environment.
The first Korean car to win the European Car of the Year in 2022, the 2024 version of the Kia EV6 matches the performance of other EVs in this round, earning 5 Green Stars and an Average Score of 94%. This sleek electric hatchback is based on the Hyundai Group’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The EV6 also shares the E-GMP with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the Genesis GV60. The EV6’s Highway and Cold Ambient Test energy demand figures are responsible for scores notably lower than those of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 tested in 2024 but do earn the EV6 the same rating as the IONIQ 5 tested in 2022. The Kia EV6 also shares the same grid-to-battery output efficiency as the Toyota bZ4X, resulting in remarkably minimised energy losses from its charger and battery. Despite the size and mass of the EV6 and its unspectacular consumption values, the car remains a viable and generally efficient electric option.
The BYD SEAL U, a fully electric large SUV noted by some as “BYD’s most convincing entry into Europe yet” achieves an absolute score of 5 Green Stars and an Average Score of 93%, highlighting its excellent environmental credentials. Thanks to its zero tailpipe emissions, good energy efficiency, and minimal greenhouse gas emissions, the SEAL-U emerges on par with other tested BYD models: the BYD ATTO 3 in 2023 and the BYD DOLPHIN in 2024. However, the programme recommends that BYD further improve the efficiency of its onboard charger. With 11 kW charging, normally about 89% of the energy withdrawn from the plug is available for the vehicle to use. In the case of the SEAL U, Green NCAP measured only around 87%.
Green NCAP’s results suggest that ICEs – particularly those running on petrol and diesel – face significant challenges. For one, the hopeful Peugeot 308, with its BlueHDi diesel engine, obtains a mid-range rating of 3 Green Stars and an Average Score of 55%. The diesel powertrain is convincing not only with its reasonable fuel consumption values but also as it scores well in Clean Air with decent control of pollutant output. While the performance of the state-of-the-art exhaust aftertreatment system remained robust and effective under most test conditions, additional improvements are possible in this hatchback, especially regarding NOx emissions in short urban trips with cold engine start, and in congestion.
The Volkswagen Taigo is a light compact crossover driven by a petrol engine that also gathers 3 Green Stars and an Average Score of 53%. The vehicle convinces consumers with good gaseous pollutant levels, and particle emissions lower than those of many of its competitors. In terms of energy efficiency, the Taigo scores 5.2/10, which is good but not outstanding.
Lastly, and the lowest scorer in 2024 so far, the Kia Ceed, a popular petrol-powered hatchback, scores only 2 Green Stars and an Average Score of 37%. While practical and affordable, the Ceed’s environmental performance calls for further improvements in emissions reduction and fuel economy. It struggles most with greenhouse gas emissions, namely CO2, like most other fossil-fuelled cars. Pollutants are managed only marginally, and the vehicle fails to retain exhaust aftertreatment robustness in the Highway Test. Here, the carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are far above Green NCAP’s gross exceedance thresholds, and the total Highway Test score is set to zero.
To score higher in future rounds of testing, especially with plans to tighten the assessment protocols in 2025, manufacturers of ICE vehicles will need to adopt increasingly advanced emissions control technologies, improve fuel efficiency, and explore improved implementation of hybridisation. Reducing vehicle mass and introducing designs with less aerodynamic resistance are also possible routes for lowering environmental impact.
“It’s true that electric vehicles consistently outperform internal combustion engine cars in our assessments, particularly in the areas of air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. However, ICE vehicles still have a role to play in the immediate future given their continued appeal. Advanced emissions control systems, hybrid technology, and alternative fuels adoption are all promising developments. A change in consumers’ preferences away from large cars can also contribute to more sustainable mobility. Green NCAP will continue to push for cleaner, more efficient vehicle technologies and advocate for a broader transformation in the way consumers think about and use transportation.”
Dr. Aleksandar Damyanov, Green NCAP Technical Manager
Editor’s note
For full results, visit www.greenncap.com.
For media information, please contact Cordelia Wilson at [email protected].
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About Green NCAP
Green NCAP is an independent initiative which promotes the development of cars which are clean, energy efficient and cause as little harm to the environment as possible.
Green NCAP uses a broad range of tests to address the flaws in approval tests and, through consumer information, rewards those manufacturers whose vehicles go beyond the minimum requirements and offer excellent, robust, real-world performance.
We believe that consumers need to be adequately informed about the energy consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions of the vehicle of their choice.
