|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Back to News & Articles list
|
 |
CO2 EMISSIONS: One compromise too many perhaps …
Publication date: 12 January 2009
With more than 220 million cars on EU roads, Europe had to pass new legislation to get down CO2 emissions. But is the done deal something to rejoice about?
With the number of cars in Europe still growing, CO2 emissions from the vehicles have now stabilised and make up some 12% of yearly emissions in the whole European Union. A new regulation proposed by the European Commission in 2007 will for the first time set emission performance standards for new passenger cars. Improving the efficiency of their cars requires high investments by car manufacturers. As the stakes are high, heated discussions in the European Parliament and amongst the Member States have lead to compromises on some of the most controversial issues. The initial rejoicing is now quietening down as to the deal reached between members of the European Parliament and the EU member states cuts some of the ambition of the original proposal.
The Commission's original proposal set a target of an average of 120g of CO2/km for the whole car industry by 2012. This compares to the current average levels of 160g/km. The CO2 savings consist of an average target of 130g CO2/km for new passenger cars as well as an extra 10g thanks to improvements in vehicle motor technology and other techniques. Ultra low-carbon vehicles with less than 50 g CO2/km, count as 3.5 cars in 2012 and 2013, 2.5 cars in 2014, 1.5 cars in 2015 and one car from 2016. Special targets apply for small manufacturers producing less than 10,000 new registered cars per year.
Following the deal thrashed out between Parliament and Member States, a key compromise in the new regulation is a phase-in period postponing the 2012 target of 120g CO2/km to 2015 and giving manufacturers interim targets to comply with average CO2 emissions of 65% of their fleets in January 2012, 75% in January 2013 and 80% in January 2014. A long term target has been added whereby average emissions in new car fleets must reach 95g CO2/km by 2020. As foreseen in the original proposal, excess emissions premiums from 2012 until 2018 will fine manufacturers if their average emissions of CO2 exceed the specific emission target.
Wil Botman, Director General of the FIA European Bureau, has already warned of postponing and watering down CO2 targets for passenger cars. “Most technologies needed to achieve the targets exist but simply need to be further spread-out on the market,” said Botman. He believes that the compromises made took an unnecessary step back at the expense of the European consumers who are looking for fuel-efficient cars. “Such a compromise means that European consumers will have to wait another three years in order to pick up the benefits of the proposed regulation”.
Car manufacturers may be given special credits, up to 7 gram CO2 in each manufacturer's average specific target, for innovative CO2-reducing technologies on the car, such as energy-efficient lights. These technologies are not currently included in the normal test cycle. “Which measures can be taken into account in the additional ten grams is still being worked out. For instance, the implementation of gear-shifting indicators can help motorists to save fuel and reduce emissions, perhaps two grams" said Olivier Lenz from the European Bureau. "Also the use of biofuels may be taken into account" added Lenz. "All this has still to be worked out over the next months.”
For more information, contact Wilfried Klanner or Olivier Lenz, FIA European Bureau
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Print this page
