European Parliament endorses 95g 'Cars and CO2' regulation
Tue 25 February 2014
View all news
The European Parliament has voted in support of rules designed to achieve a new car CO2 emission reduction target of 95g/km by 2020. The text retains this target but includes a one-year “phase-in” period in 2020. It also allows “super credits”, whereby the cleanest cars in each manufacturer’s range count for more than others, to apply from 2020 to 2022. MEPs also voted to introduce a new test cycle to 'better reflect real driving conditions'.
By a large majority (499 to 107 with 9 abstentions) the European Parliament voted for the proposal. Last October, under pressure from Germany, European Environment ministers had agreed to the one-year phase-in period and further concessions based on super credits. (See LowCVP back-story.)
Environment groups were critical of the earlier concession but celebrated the latest (and near final) stage in the passage of the regulation into European law. Greg Archer of Brussels-based campaign group T&E said (reported by Business Green): "This one year delay to the car emissions law was an unnecessary weakening to please luxury German carmakers. Nevertheless, the final agreement is still a good deal for the environment, EU economy and drivers - reducing fuel use and CO2 emissions by 27 per cent over six years."
Rapporteur Thomas Ulmer said: “This vote means that Europe will continue to be at the cutting edge in reducing CO2 emissions from cars, as the 95g/km target represents a saving of 15 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. However, the cost of innovation has to be socially acceptable and economically feasible, both for consumers and manufacturers."
Super-credits (favourable weightings for cleaner cars within a manufacturer’s range) are to be allowed from 2020 to 2022 (there will be no super-credits in 2016-2020), but capped at 7.5g/km over that period. The following multipliers will apply: a car emitting less than 50g/km will count as 2 passenger cars in 2020, 1.67 passenger cars in 2021, 1.33 passenger cars in 2022, and 1 passenger car in 2023.
MEPs also voted for the introduction of a new testing system for fuel efficiency which is set to be brought in from 2017 that aims to better reflect 'real world' driving conditions. MEPs and officials said that recent studies show that manufacturers have exploited weaknesses in the current procedure, leading to official consumption and emission figures which are inferior to those achieved in everyday driving conditions.
The text of the Parliamentary announcement says that the new UN-defined World Light Duty Test Procedure (WLTP) which better reflects real-world driving conditions, should come into force at the earliest opportunity with the European Commission indicating its support for a 2017 deadline.
The regulation must still be approved by the Council of Ministers to enter into force.
Related Links
< Back to news list