The European Parliament would trade high CO2 figures for safety
The European Parliament has approved a report that supports automakers' demands: the automakers can produce new models that emit more CO2 than the proposed average, as long as the additional emissions are direct consequence of safety measures. The report also asks the European Commission to develop legislation that develops the concept.
The measure was justified under manufacturers' claims that the new CO2 limits could hamper jobs in Europe. Despite all the figures that have been bandied about, the report includes no specific CO2 maximum production levels until 2015, when a target of 125 g/km would be feasible. With this new limit, the Parliament agrees with automakers that have claimed that it was difficult to attain, such an endeavor would need 5 to 7 years for development. The latest European proposal arrived from the European Commission asking last December to lower the current 160 g/km to 130 g/km by 2012.
This report also asks European countries to use public funding for R+D in the automotive sector to improve emissions and it also mentions Asia. While it asks that the EU and China should work together, this work should be aimed to generate "equal options that avoid unlawful competition (i. e. copying)". Speaking about South Korea, the report demands the EU to convince Koreans to lower their import taxes to make European cars more attractive, in order to pursue a free-trade agreement.
Finally, there was something else about EVs. German Christian-Democrat Jorgo Chatzimarkakis said that "Europe is five to ten years behind battery research for cars," which he finds is a good way to reduce CO2 emissions.
[Source: Europa Press via Econoticias]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joseph 7:58PM (1/20/2008)
"the automakers can produce new models that emit more CO2 than the proposed average, as long as the additional emissions are direct consequence of safety measures."
That is waaaaay too vague. If this ever goes into effect, this massive loophole will make progress glacial.
It sounds like the EU is playing a "how low can you go," samba with the car makers. If they really want to so drastically cut CO2 emmisions, I think it is about time they start mandating alternative fuels instead.
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Karl-Uwe Strunzen 7:55PM (1/20/2008)
It won't go into effect. It is important to note that the parliament is adopting German anti-green proposals left right and centre simply because it is the Germans who are lagging here. In order for these proposals to become legislation, they have to be approved by the other EU bodies. This shouldn't happen because these proposals are against the EU interests and are only being adopted because of the German mafia. It's user pays in everything else and I can't believe the Germans will actually get away with this. Not only have the Germans done nothing to develop green engines and cars for the last 10 years (see the 1998 ACEA agreement), but future prospects are gloomy as well. I am referring to the new generation of gasoline, diesel and CNG engines, low-roll tyres etc. etc. which the French and Italians are about to put on the market.
The German MEP would be far more correct to specify that Germany is five to ten years behind battery research for cars. The Bollore group in France have developed a very interesting supercapacitor battery as well as the battery to be used for the the Pininfarina JV EV just announced. The French and Italians have been making efforts in converting mainstream models to EV for years, particularly in Switzerland:
http://www.newteon.com/www2/index.php?lang=en
This isn't just true for cars. For example, Alcatel Saft in France pioneered the use of Li-ion batteries on European satellites and dominates this market.
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