14 DAY TRIAL // In a press release published just yesterday, the European Parliament announces the approval of a new set of rules and regulations expected to help achieve a 95g/km CO2 emission reduction target for cars.
On its website, the European Parliament details that this emission reduction goal must be achieved by the year 2020, and will only target new cars.
To put things into perspective, it must be said that, for the time being, cars in Europe must abide by a carbon pollution limit of 130g/km.
Information made available to the public says that this new set of rules was approved with 499 votes in favor, 107 against and 9 abstentions.
Commenting on the European Parliament's decision to give the thumbs up to this initiative, rapporteur Thomas Ulmer said that the move was sure to help Europe further limit carbon pollution resulting from traffic.
“This vote means that Europe will continue to be at the cutting edge in reducing co2 emissions from cars, as the 95g/km target represents a saving of 15 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year,” he said in a statement.
As detailed in the press release on the matter at hand, the emission reduction target of 95g/km for new cars is to come with a so-called phase-in period in 2020.
This phase-in period is intended to make it possible for car manufacturers and even their customers to adjust to the new performance standards, the European Parliament explains.
As rapporteur Thomas Ulmer put it, “The cost of innovation has to be socially acceptable and economically feasible, both for consumers and manufacturers.”
According to The Institution of Technology and Engineering, this phase-in period will translate into the fact that, in 2020, just 95% of new cars will in fact meet the carbon emission reduction goal.
This will be the equivalent of a 3g/km weakening of the target, and it is the reason why some environmentalists do not approve of the phase-in.
The new set of regulations will also make it possible for car manufacturers to obtain so-called super credits for the performance of their cleanest models.
These credits are intended to make up for the more polluting vehicles, the European Parliament says.
As detailed in the press release, “Super-credits” (favorable weightings for cleaner cars within a manufacturer’s range) would be allowed from 2020 to 2022 (there will be no super-credits in 2016-2020), but capped at 7.5g/km over that period.”
Furthermore, “The following multipliers will apply: a car emitting less than 50g/km will count as 2 passenger cars in 2020, 1.67 passenger cars in 2021, 1.33 passenger cars in 2022, and 1 passenger car in 2023.”
Now that they have been given the thumbs up by the European Parliament, the new rules are waiting for approval from the Council of Ministers.