Getting tougher to get greener

26 July 2010

During the second quarter of the year, new cars have emitted an average CO2 of 145.1g/km, which is much lower compared to 145.6g/km CO2 emissions in the

During the second quarter of the year, new cars have emitted an average CO2 of 145.1g/km, which is much lower compared to 145.6g/km CO2 emissions in the first quarter, according to a study by environmental website Clean Green Cars.

However, this slight improvement could be a sign of major problems ahead for the automotive industry. As what the website indicated three months ago, a large amount of the recent increases have come from scrappage schemes that have enticed customers to purchase small, economical vehicles. And now that the scheme is over, car manufacturers should "lock-in" those gains and carry on moving forward.

Clean Green Cars said, at this time, carmakers are failing to attain this. In fact, average CO2 slightly increased between April and June 2010, to 145.26g/km from 144.93g/km. With that figure, manufacturers must cut back CO2 emission by about five percent every year to meet the target put in place by the European Union.

"Car manufacturers are swimming against the tide now that the scrappage scheme has ended. They are going to have to redouble their efforts to meet what is a reasonable overall target", said Clean Green Cars' publisher Jay Nagley.

Currently, there are only three manufactures which are below the overall EU target - Toyota with 24.49g/km, Fiat with 125.05g/km and Mini with 129.33g/km. In addition, Hyundai and Citroën are now approaching the overall target, with both now below 132g/km of CO2. The mandatory target put in place by EU is 130g/km of CO2 by 2012.

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