Average European new car CO2 emissions are dropping at a faster rate than ever before and are on course to satisfy 2015 EU targets, according to JATO Dynamics. Last year witnessed the greatest single-year drop in average CO2, as the desire to place cleaner vehicles on the road was accelerated by the rich mix of consumer demand for far more fuel-efficient vehicles, the introduction of CO2 based taxes in certain markets and national scrappage schemes throughout Europe favouring more compact, cleaner cars.
The volume-weighted European new car average is now 145.9 g/km, nearly 20 g/km less than 2003, when JATO began collating European CO2 emissions information. In addition, 50 % of all new cars sold in the 21 countries analysed had official CO2 emissions of 140g/km or less, in comparison to only 23% in 2003.
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. In 2003, only 24% of the market achieved an average of 130g/km. This was 40% by 2007, 51% in 2008 and 69% last year, already ahead of the 2012 EU target. 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."
Di Girolamo carries on: "The key point to note is that the rate of improvement has been increasing since 2007, 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."
Search terms for the article:
- car CO2 report 2003
- how to make a co2 car faster
We are always looking for experienced writers who can write good original quality posts on motor-trade-insider.com. Please 