EC hopes to slash vehicle carbon emissions

Photo: sxc.hu

The aim is to amend existing regulations and implement new obligatory limits by 2020.

According to Connie Hedegaard, EU Environment Commissioner, more ecological targets are both attainable and beneficial for all.

“It would be very good for consumers, it would be cheaper for them to drive their car, they will not need as much petrol,” Hedegaard told journalists, Wednesday.

“If you have a more energy-efficient car, according to our estimates for a van owner it could be around 400 euros the first year saved, for normal cars depending on the size it could be over 300 euros. But there is no doubt that the biggest thing that we will achieve that's also cleaner air in our cities,” Commissioner Hedegaard added.

The draft proposals call for a cap on CO2 emissions by 2020 of an average 95 grams per kilometre per new passenger vehicle, as opposed to the current allowance of 130 grams.

For delivery vehicles, there is a call for a cap on carbon dioxide emissions by 2017 of an average 147 grams per kilometre per new vehicle, against 175 grams today.

The new proposals have already drawn criticism from environmentalists who claim they will favour the manufacturers of big cars while such vehicles will have even more leeway to pollute than under the existing rules.

In order for the new limits to become binding they have to be approved by all the member states and the European Parliament. (di/jb)