EU CO2 targets “too easy”, says T&E

By / 12 years ago / News / No Comments

The report, which is published annually by T&E, says carmakers are very close to the 130g/km target they have to meet by 2015. It adds that as this is based on 2011 figures, they were effectively 4% short of the target with four years still to go. It also says that the figures quoted do not take in “eco-innovations” and “supercredits” that reward investment in cleaner technologies, so in practical terms, the car makers are nearly at their target already, according to T&E.

T&E director Jos Dings said: ‘These findings clearly show car makers were seriously exaggerating in 2008 when they claimed that the 130g/km emissions target was “unaffordable”. Many companies are reporting record profits, and the horror stories that obligatory limits would bankrupt Europe’s car industry have been shown to be ludicrous. The industry has cried wolf too often. This report shows manufacturers do not need flexibilities such as “supercredits” to meet their 2020 target as they claim.'

T&E also claims ‘worrying evidence that car makers are making CO2 savings by manipulating them to pass type approval tests, which in turn means “improvements” in fuel consumption are not benefiting drivers’.

T&E’s clean vehicles manager Greg Archer said: ‘Test results  do not reflect real-life driving conditions and the difference is getting bigger as carmakers manipulate the tests. We now need to concentrate on how the problem can be properly tackled.’

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for nearly 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day. Natalie edits all the Fleet World websites and newsletters, and loves to hear about any latest industry news - or gossip.

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