CO2 emissions from passenger cars: agreement on tough standards keeps Europe in driver's seat

The greenhouse gas emissions from new passenger cars in the EU will be subject to tougher limits as from 2020. In addition, a more realistic test cycle for fuel consumption will be put in place and a further tightening-up of the emission limits at a later stage is foreseen. This is the gist of an agreement that negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached last night. "The future limits are a real challenge for European manufacturers. However, the new standards can help keep Europe in the driver's seat when it comes to efficient and innovative cars", said the European Parliament Rapporteur Thomas Ulmer MEP.

The average greenhouse gas emissions from new passenger cars will be limited to 95 grams per kilometre as from 2020. The limit as from 2015 is at 130 grams per kilometre. The European Commission will draw up a report on whether it would be helpful to choose the size of a car as the basis for calculating the individual emission allowance. For the moment, this figure is calculated on the basis of the weight of a vehicle.

The current fuel consumption test cycle NEDC is to be replaced by the new WLTP in the medium term. "The NEDC is out of touch with real-life driving on the road and we need a more realistic consumption test. The new WLPT standard will be mandatory for the EU by 2017", said the EPP Group MEP.

The emission limits will be revised at a later stage. The Commission has committed itself to an impact assessment where the 2025 target range of 68 to 78 grams, called for by Parliament, is to be evaluated. "The competitiveness of European manufacturers will be taken into account here", said Thomas Ulmer.

Low-emission vehicles with emissions below 50 grams can be weighted above average (so-called super credits). As from 2020 they can be calculated in relation to the rest of the fleet with the factor 2. This factor is to decrease to 1.67 in 2021, to 1.33 in the following year and to finally phase-out altogether as from 2023. The maximum ‘greenhouse-gas rebate’ must not exceed 2.5 grams per year and manufacturer. "This is a reasonable and temporary incentive for alternative low-emission vehicles which would otherwise hardly be able to make it into the market", concluded Ulmer.