Really silly question about EVs

[Stratman]

Do EVs with ICE range extenders where the REX is purely used as an onboard generator and cannot directly drive the wheels (e.g. BMW i3) have to pass an emissions test in an MOT?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

My understanding is that NO hybrids, including range extenders and even the bog standard Prius, are subject to an MoT emissions test.

It's a sore point amongst MoT testers.

That said, I'm not an MoT tester, and I'm sure there'll be a garage owner or MoT tester along in a minute to confirm "professionally"

"Mild hybrid emissions go unchecked - MOT Juice Blog."

(I just love that outrageously smelly old Jaguars and anything else made up until 1983 also go untested.)

 

[whitenemesis]

Check out the MoT tester's manual for the definitive answer

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - 8. Nuisance - Guidance - GOV.UK

Noise, exhaust emissions, engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) (sometimes called an engine management light or 'EML'), and fluid leak rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

 

[Stratman]

That's mad. A Prius with an electric range of less than a mile and a half doesn't need its emissions checked.

 

[st13phil]

That's mad. A Prius with an electric range of less than a mile and a half doesn't need its emissions checked.

No, it completely accords with the rest of the “green” hypocrisy.

 

[markjay]

Found this:

Change MOT Testing Rules to Require Hybrids to Have Emissions Testing - CCM

Are emissions on hybrid vehicles an issue? The simple answer is yes. There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to hybrids and mild hybrids. The majority of drivers don’t fully understand the meaning of each and how it actually works. Currently, all hybrid vehicles don’t require emissions testing...

ccmhelp.co.uk

"Currently, all hybrid vehicles don’t require emissions testing during their annual MOT however, we don’t think this is right... We have created a petition to get the government to look into this."

Sounds sensible, but I am just thinking that if the car is presented to the test with a full HV battery, how can the tester initiate the ICE engine startup to check emissions? It would be very difficult to carry out MOT tests on vehicles where the engine only runs when the computer says so. There may be an option to force the engine to start, but even so it will vary between marques.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Found this:

Change MOT Testing Rules to Require Hybrids to Have Emissions Testing - CCM

Are emissions on hybrid vehicles an issue? The simple answer is yes. There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to hybrids and mild hybrids. The majority of drivers don’t fully understand the meaning of each and how it actually works. Currently, all hybrid vehicles don’t require emissions testing...

ccmhelp.co.uk

"Currently, all hybrid vehicles don’t require emissions testing during their annual MOT however, we don’t think this is right... We have created a petition to get the government to look into this."

Sounds sensible, but I am just thinking that if the car is presented to the test with a full HV battery, how can the tester initiate the ICE engine startup to check emissions? It would be very difficult to carry out MOT tests on vehicles where the engine only runs when the computer says so. There may be an option to force the engine to start, but even so it will vary between marques.

Exactly, it’s a “whatever.” Broadly hybrids are simply cleaner for town use anyway and there’s a handful of practicalities involved in testing more rigorously.

In a world where people are busily messing around with the tuning and exhausts on their dirty Euro3’s, 4’d and 5’s, the pragmatic solution is to focus on the areas where the test can make a difference.

Getting cleverer with testing Lexus RX450h’s or I3’s or Priuses would just be tidying the deckchairs on the Titanic.