ORA Funky Cat, Tesla Model S, VW ID5 celebrate Green NCAP triumphs

Great Wall Motor’s ORA Funky Cat small family car – the soon to be named GWM ORA 03 - has clinched two titles as best full electric car and small family car in the latest Green NCAP category tests which help car buyers make environmentally conscious choices.

Green NCAP praised the ORA Funky Cat for its good efficiency under a variety of conditions and through making good use of its aerodynamic design and high charging efficiency, helping improve its overall consumption and reducing running costs.

Speaking about the Green NCAP awards, Toby Marshall, managing director, GWM ORA commented: “We’re delighted with the fantastic results that ORA 03 has achieved as part of the rigorous Green NCAP testing. As the winner of two key categories, it is clear that ORA 03 has exceptional sustainability and efficiency credentials, factors that will resonate strongly with UK consumers.”

GWM ORA recently achieved a key sales milestone, with 1,000 vehicles now on UK roads. The brand focused on growing its retail infrastructure last year, establishing 30 points of representation across the UK with 16 retail partners. This year, it plans to expand its retail network through current and new partners and open one new site a month on average.

Green NCAP’s categories recognise car makers that are committed to introducing cleaner and more efficient engine designs - regardless of powertrain - noting that the definition of category winners is not solely based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) but on the measurement results of a vehicle’s tailpipe pollutant emissions, the fuel or energy consumption it needs to drive, and the direct greenhouse gas output and the emissions related to the production and supply of the fuel/energy.

All Green NCAP’s top performers are electric however. Last year, Green NCAP awarded five stars within its new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to the Dacia Spring, the ORA Funky Cat, Renault’s electric Megane E-Tech, and the Tesla Model 3.

To be voted a category winner, a calculation is made of the average value of the scores in each of the three indexes: Clean Air Index, Greenhouse Gas Index, and Energy Efficiency Index. The average score is given in percentage and is used as the basis for comparison of the vehicles, where the vehicle with the highest average score is the category winner.

This year’s winners were:

Diesel Car Category: Opel/Vauxhall Mokka

The Mokka takes advantage of a well-tailored diesel powertrain and is convincing not only by its low fuel consumption values but also by scoring well in the Clean Air Index. It managed to minimise the output of pollutants, through a state-of-the-art exhaust aftertreatment system that remained robust and effective under most test conditions.

Petrol Car Category: Škoda Kamiq

The Škoda Kamiq proved to be a good allrounder, making reasonable use of the efficiency potential of a small, turbocharged petrol engine and adequate emissions management to keep pollutant emissions levels low.

Both the diesel Opel Mokka and the petrol Škoda Kamiq can be seen as a reference for good-performing conventional fossil fuel vehicles.

Executive Car Category: Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S impresses not only in its cutting-edge technology features but also in its attention to energy efficiency, performance, and driving range. Regardless of its size and mass, the Model S sets an example in the segment of pure electric luxury cars.

Small MPV Category: Renault Kangoo

The Kangoo E-Tech offers enhanced transport capabilities for goods and targets small and medium businesses. With its relatively small battery (45 kWh), the car is meant to be used mainly on shorter distances, but this usage case very clearly highlights all the everyday advantages of the fully electric powertrain, provided that the vehicle can be charged as required by the user.

Small SUV Category: VW ID.5

Even though it weighs more than 2,100 kg due to its big battery, the ID.5 demonstrated impressive efficiency performance. The recorded consumption values were among the lowest measured by Green NCAP so far and allowed this EV to win first place in its Small SUV category.

“Industry has now understood that the new Euro 7 regulation will not lead to the huge step forward in emissions control as originally foreseen, which leaves the market open to competition. The responsibility for cleaner air might just lie more on the shoulders of industry rather than on regulators. We hope these Category Winners give guidance on which brands are making progress in a sustainable direction,” said Dr Aleksandar Damyanov, Green NCAP technical manager.