EU car manufacturers assess impact of new vehicle emissions

A report from ACEA is looking into CO2 emissions from new vehicles.

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has published a report assessing the impact of new vehicles on emissions.

The Association, which represents some UK car makers alongside the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), has brought together 50 transport experts as part of the report.

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association has published a report on tackling CO2 emissions.

ACEA represents 15 European car, van, truck and bus manufacturers including BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford of Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco, Jaguar Land Rover, Opel Group, PSA group, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars and Volvo Group.

The findings come ahead of the publication of a European Union report titled the ‘Decarbonisation of Transport’. According to ACEA any potential strategy to clamp down on emissions from new cars will fail to address the ‘key challenges that industry and policy makers must overcome to reduce CO2 emissions more effectively’.

Report

The report titled ‘Joining forces to tackle the road transport C02 challenge’ was unveiled in Berlin on Wednesday (1 June).

President Dieter Zetsche said: “New vehicles make up just 5% of the entire motor vehicle fleet. Emission goals that exclusively target new vehicles simply fail to address the bulk of the problem.

“We need a comprehensive approach that reduces CO2 emissions more effectively by drawing on the full spectrum of solutions, including vehicle technology, cleaner fuels, altering driver behaviour, improving infrastructure and introducing intelligent transport systems.”

Tests

Mr Zetsche also added that New European Driving Cycle — the method used to assess emission levels of car engines, originally devised in the 1980s is now “obsolete”.

He revealed the automobile industry is actively working towards a new emissions test — as well as another test to measure pollutant emissions on the road. The new procedure is called the Real Driving Emissions test.

Mr Zetsche continued: “We need to move forward now with these tests in order to bridge the gap between lab and reality.

“These tests require a tremendous effort on the part of Europe’s car manufacturers, both in terms of investment and production. Still, manufacturers are fully supportive of these efforts and encourage the introduction of these new regulations because they will provide clarity for customers and the industry.”

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association report can be found here.