New emission limits on vans welcome but not enough

Publication date: 15 February 2011

The FIA European Bureau expressed its disappointment today that MEPs were failing to keep up the momentum on ambitious energy efficiency and climate change targets, and warned that by doing so, competitiveness could be at risk.

In response to the European Parliament’s vote to limit CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles (vans) to 175 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2017 and 147 grams by 2020, the FIA European Bureau  – representing 35 million motoring consumers via its 71 member clubs - said that MEPs should have gone further in the interests of both European consumers and the environment.

“While we are happy that MEPs have voted to limit average CO2 emissions for new vans sold in the EU, we believe that they could have gone further,” said Jacob Bangsgaard, Director General, FIA Region I.

The FIA European Bureau argued for a short term target, limiting emissions to 175 g CO2/km by 2016, with a longer term target of 140 g CO2/km by 2020, targets close to those set by the European Commission and supported by the Parliament’s Environment Committee. A recent FIA study showed that 28% of light commerical vehicles already met the short-term target of 175g CO2/km in 2009, a rise of 10% on the year before. Industry is looking for set targets and unfortunately, it is European consumers who will end up paying the additional costs of continually changing goal-posts.

In the longer term, the FIA European Bureau also expressed concern about the Parliament’s decision to set a cap of 147g CO2/km by 2020, a figure significantly higher than the Commission’s proposal for a cap at 135g CO2/km by 2020 and the FIA’s call for a limit of 140 g CO2/km by 2020.

“A stringent long-term target is vital if we are to reduce the impact of climate change, to foster energy-efficiency as well as to encourage healthy competition in Europe’s light commercial vehicle market”, said Bangsgaard.

For more information, contact Niall Carty, Communications Manager, FIA:  n.carty@ fiabrussels.com