EU Parliament Votes on Motor Vehicle Emission Standards CO2

According to European environmental group, Transport & Environment (T&E), the effect of the phase-in and other proposed loopholes would amount to no more than a 139g/km target by 2015. Average emissions in 2007 were 158g/km.

The industry is also calling for zero emission vehicles to receive extra credit. According T&E, if these kind of "super credits" get adopted and then the industry as a whole sells only one percent of such 'zero emission vehicles', the emission target for the remaining 99 percent of the cars would be 137 g CO2/km instead of the European Commission's 130 g CO2/km.

Finally T&E is critical of plans for small car manufacturers such as Porsche and Aston Martin to get an opt-out or a lower target. T&E, which is working closely with Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, believes that no carmaker should receive special treatment. The brands falling under the proposed opt-outs not only have the largest reduction potential (for example, Ferrari has already previewed its 'Millechili' concept that uses 42% less fuel than current models) but also the largest R&D budgets to make the required changes. There is also a serious risk that other carmakers will adapt their production so as to become eligible for such derogations and evade their obligations, they say.

However many EU countries are introducing new regulations that will go beyond the minimum requirements being set.  As it happens ,this appears to be in countries without indigenous motor vehicle production; Sweden being an exception.

PetrolWorld 240908  Source: Just Auto & EU Agenda