Meaningful carbon cuts from road vehicles require broad, integrated approach - McKinsey Report
Wed 01 April 2009
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A new report by the consultancy group McKinsey finds that although the number of cars is growing worldwide, the automotive industry can cut greenhouse gas emissions from the use of passenger vehicles, much of it using proven technologies, particularly improving new vehicle fuel efficiency. The report says that meaningful, cost-effective reductions in carbon emissions from passenger vehicles will, though, entail an integrated approach involving a broad range of measures.
The report - based on an 18-month joint effort by McKinsey and Company's automotive and climate change divisions - estimates that the potential is there to reduce passenger vehicle emissions by 47 percent by 2030.
Increasing the fuel efficiency of new vehicles accounts for 72 per cent of the potential for emissions reduction by 2030 according to the research. However, there is a limit to that potential unless there is a major technical breakthrough in terms of the operation of the internal combustion engine.
To make a quantum shift in emissions reduction, will require changing the source of energy used to power vehicles. At the moment, the report says, the front runner for such a change would be vehicle electrification, however hurdles of cost, infrastructure and consumer acceptance still remain.
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