2007 UK car market CO2 performance numbers released
British website cleangreencars.co.uk has released three reports that show the improvements (and the negative numbers) that the UK car industry made from 2006 to 2007. Overall, cars sold in the UK improved the average CO2 production figures by 1.16 percent from 166.32 to 164.39 g/km. As you can see, there is still a long way to go until the expected average of 130 g/km for 2012.
The best improvement figures came from the Mini (which turned in CO2 numbers that are 17.32 percent better), followed by Jeep (10.83 percent), BMW (6.48 percent), Mitsubishi (6.29 percent) and Land Rover (4.10 percent). Note that this is just measuring improvement. The top five marques with the lowest CO2 emissions in 2007 were Fiat (142.15 g/km), Peugeot (146.04) , Daihatsu (146.9), Mini (147.26) and Citroën (148.07).
The model with the least CO2 emissions was the Toyota Prius (104 g/km), followed by the Toyota Aygo/Peugeot 104/Citroën C1 triplets (109) and the Smart Fortwo (116.39). Note, as well, that it's the average figures for a specific model and all versions were considered. CO2 figures are relevant for British motorists because their road tax is calculated depending on these figures.
[Source: Cleangreencars.co.uk]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Scatter 7:07PM (1/09/2008)
A long way to go indeed. It'll take us 17 more years to get a fleet average of 130g/km at the current rate of progress.
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CARazed 7:11PM (1/09/2008)
So when are we (USA) getting with the program? We need more regs or consumer demand to promote this kind of progress.
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Phil L. 7:24PM (1/09/2008)
CARazed -
It's likely much of the UK's progress is due to the popularity of diesel power. But virtually all of those diesel designs can't yet meet US emissions standards (particulates and NOx tends to be the problem areas).
Yes, it's ironic that the US doesn't see many fuel efficient vehicles due to emissions regulations - but it's important to understand that the the US and Europe have distinctly different approaches to emissions regulation.
A useful discussion that includes this topic is found here:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/editorials/the-truth-about-diesels/
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scatter 6:48AM (1/10/2008)
Interestingly Phil, average diesel CO2 emissions are increasing. I don't yet have the data for 2007 but diesel emissions crept up about 1g/km per year between 2004 and 2006. Average petrol emissions decreased by 2.5g/km between 2004 and 2005 and by 3.8g/km between 2005 and 2006.
There's some further information here:
http://smmtlib.findlay.co.uk/articles/sharedfolder/Publications/CO2%20report3.pdf
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Phil L. 8:20AM (1/10/2008)
scatter -
Do you have a source for the average diesel CO2 increase? Is the increase weighted by car size or other factors?
The report you linked credits diesel as a primary factor behind improvements in CO2 emissions in the UK (page 6, item 9; page 8, item 13; page 15, item 30). And the report notes big CO2 savings moving from petrol to diesel within the same vehicle model (page 15; item 28). The report conclusion particularly credit diesel with the drop in CO2 emissions (page 49, item 123).
Of course, I point this out mostly in frustration that the diesels that are popular elsewhere aren't yet clean enough to meet US standards.
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Scatter 6:16PM (1/10/2008)
The data we have comes from SMMT also. On page 14 of the report linked to above it gives some information on the change in CO2 emissions and market share for diesel and petrol vehicles.
The figures I quoted were simply sales weighted average CO2 emissions for the two fuels. Diesel's market share has grown dramatically from 14% in 2000 to 40% in 2007 so this is the main reason why the whole market is shifting slowly down, however petrols must now be very very close to them in terms of average CO2 and may even be lower (I'll be very interested to see the data for 2007).
I believe the reason for the increasing diesel emissions is the wider availability of large diesel cars while the reason for the average petrol emissions reducing is the wider availability of very small, efficient petrol cars.
If the shift towards diesel, along with the increase in average diesel CO2 emissions, continues my guess is that UK average CO2 emissions could stagnate.
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Scatter 5:49PM (1/10/2008)
The data we have comes from SMMT also. On page 14 of the report linked to above it gives some information on the change in CO2 emissions and market share for diesel and petrol vehicles.
The figures I quoted were simply sales weighted average CO2 emissions for the two fuels. Diesel's market share has grown dramatically from 14% in 2000 to 40% in 2007 so this is the main reason why the whole market is shifting slowly down, however petrols must now be very very close to them in terms of average CO2 and may even be lower (I'll be very interested to see the data for 2007).
I believe the reason for the increasing diesel emissions is the wider availability of large diesel cars while the reason for the average petrol emissions reducing is the wider availability of very small, efficient petrol cars.
If the shift towards diesel, along with the increase in average diesel CO2 emissions, continues my guess is that UK average CO2 emissions could stagnate.
Reply