New car CO2 plunge
May 13th, 2010 by Richard Aucock
NEW car CO2 emissions are falling faster than ever before reveals JATO in a new European report.
They have fallen by nearly 20g/km since 2003, and 2009 was the single biggest yearly reduction on record.
The average new car sold in Europe now emits 145.9g/km CO2. This means brands are well on target to meet the 130g/km target car makers’ range-averages will have to comply with by 2015.
Furthermore, half of all new cars sold in the 21 countries analysed had official CO2 emissions of 140g/km or less, compared to only 23 percent in 2003.
A combination of technology and recession has led to the changes said JATO, along with high fuel prices and steep levels of taxation in many member states.
David Di Girolamo, head of JATO Consult, said: ‘The pace of improvement is remarkable and shows just how rapidly the industry has reacted to environmental demands.
‘This achievement is even greater when set in the context of new cars becoming larger, safer and better equipped, as consumer demands reach ever higher.’
JATO revealed data on the proportion of car market achieving a 130g/km CO2 average:
• 2003: 24%
• 2007: 40%
• 2008: 51%
• 2009: 69%
‘The key point is that the rate of improvement has been increasing since 2007,’ said Di Girolamo, ‘through more low-CO2 technology and specific low-CO2 models on the road.
‘Looking at year-on-year trends, it appears that, if the current momentum can be maintained, 130g/km by 2015, as required by the EU legislation, is achievable.’