Average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in Europe were down 5% last year – the largest fall ever recorded, according to the European Commission.
Road transport accounts for around a fifth of all CO2 emission in Europe, of which cars are responsible for over half.
The Commission began tracking average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the region in 2000 and has set a target of achieving 130 g CO2/km for 65% of lowest emitting cars by 2012. By 2015, this target will apply to all new cars.
“Reducing CO2 emissions from road transport remains a major challenge,” says Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. “[But] the latest data shows that the car industry is on track to achieve the 2015 target and most likely several major manufacturers will be able to do so well in advance.”
Carmakers successfully lobbied for the 130 g CO2/km target to be pushed back from 2012 to 2015, but some – notably Toyota – now look set to achieve the target ahead of schedule.
According to Transport & Environment, the drop in emissions is not mostly due to the financial crisis and widespread scrappage schemes shifting demand towards smaller, more efficient cars as some have assumed.
Instead, Transport & Environment’s analysis puts over half of the improvement – close to 3% – down to better technology.
“This data shows that last year’s big improvement in fuel efficiency was not just a one-off caused by a shift to smaller cars; carmakers are adding fuel-saving technologies,” says director Jos Dings.