Dyson plans to reopen its legal battle with German engineering group Bosch after securing a victory in the European courts last week.
The company founded by billionaire entrepreneur Sir James Dyson won an appeal in the European Court of Justice related to the way in which the energy efficiency of its devices are measured.
Judges backed the British company’s argument that the way power consumption of vacuum cleaners was measured is flawed.
Dyson said its “cyclonic” design did not lose power in normal use like traditional designs, which are less efficient as they fill up with dust and require more power.
The ruling said a previous case was flawed because the tests only measured efficiency when the bags of traditional vacuums were empty. It added that tests should be as close as possible to real life conditions, where vacuums’ dust bags would typically be fuller.
Max Conze, chef executive of Dyson, said the latest ruling gave the company the confidence to restart the legal battle with Bosch, having previously lost a case claiming that the company was misleading customers over the energy rating of its devices.
Dyson alleged the German business committed consumer fraud over the energy ratings of its devices, claiming the amount of power they used was higher when used at home than in test conditions.
A Netherlands court ruled Dyson’s claims were “completely baseless” but Mr Conze said the latest legal ruling meant the company would restart its fight.
“We feel vindicated by this clear opinion from the European Court of Justice and will go back and open proceedings against Bosch as appropriate,” the chief executive said.
“Consumers are buying products because they want to be environmentally friendly. This is simple, it’s about doing the right thing by consumers: we want what the energy rating it says on the box to be the true energy rating and that is clearly not the case now.”
Dyson previously campaigned for vacuum cleaners to be limited 700 watts of power because it was convinced its devices were more efficient and did not need the more powerful motors used by rivals.
Sir James even used the point to argue for Britain leaving the EU, saying he was outvoted by German vacuum cleaner manufacturers, many of whom make products with large motors that use bags, and therefore lose suction when loaded with dust.
“Washing machines are tested with washing in them, cars are tested with people in them, and fridges are tested with food in them. But when it came to our request to test vacuum cleaners with dust in them, the big German block of manufacturers complained,” said Sir James.
“If German companies go on dominating European legislation, that’s a very good reason not to be in Europe. If they’re not going to listen to us, we shouldn’t be in there.”
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