EU continues to backpedal on CO2 standards
Just the other day, we heard the European Union was thinking of lowering its CO2 standards for automakers. It appears that the rumors were true, as the European Parliament has indeed voted to amend the proposed standards. The details are pretty difficult to follow, as this particular issue has been going on for an excruciatingly long time, so bear with us here. The gist is that the Commission will grant automakers a longer period of time to meet the now-not-as-clean target of 130g/km of carbon emissions along with reducing the amount that automakers would be fined for missing that target. To go along with this, credits would be earned for models which produce fewer than 70g/km. That makes some sense, as it may get automakers to push for that low figure. The problem is that up to five other vehicles could be offset by that one low emitter. That's pretty bad math. Expect these issues to be voted on in the near future.
[Source: Channel 4]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike!!ekiM 3:06PM (9/07/2008)
Good to See, the Business community corrupts democracy in Europe too!
Methane is starting to bubble up in the Arctic, but the auto and oil industry are going to be taken care of. Today's profits will be worthless if that Methane BOMB goes off. Or we'd better study the Afghanistan mountain/desert economy because that's what the world will look like if there's a 25 degree increase in temperature.
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Mark 3:17PM (9/07/2008)
Oh, don't worry. We would have nuked ourselves before that happens
tifosiotaku 7:04PM (9/07/2008)
Greenpeace will bitch about this to no end, but as long as Pagani and Koeingsegg live to see another day, it's all good...
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James Sonne 8:09PM (9/07/2008)
Who cares about Pagani et al? What, do they make up 0.0000000001% of the vehicles on the road? I care a lot more about Ford, GM, Honda, and Toyota that make vehicles with emissions that could be improved upon even by a fraction of a mile per gallon, because that fraction is multiplied hundreds of thousands of times. Do Pagani and Koenigsegg even make a profit?
Aston Martin has been in business for DECADES without making a profit, buoyed by ownership from a larger car manufacturer, so the profits from a Ford Focus went to making sure more Aston Martins will be built. You buy a VW Jetta TDI and part of the cost of that car goes to making sure more W12 Quad Turbo Bugatti Veyrons and Porsche 911 Turbo GT3s can be manufactured and put on the road. That's the real issue here, not some arbitrary CO2eq limit set by some government body somewhere. Perhaps, we being capitalists, should simply buy from a manufacturer that has policies with which we agree. Buying a Toyota Prius means part of the cost of a Lexus LS is being subsidized for someone else. At least buying a used car doesn't give additional money to an auto manufacturer.
CO2eq emissions should be set, and enforced, but we shouldn't wait for the government to do our job for us. We should be smart, empowered consumers. You wouldn't donate money to charities with which you don't agree, just as you shouldn't buy a product from a company with which you don't agree. Don't whine about legislation when you're not willing to make the choices on your own.
Not directed at you or anyone in particular, cause I don't know you to make these kinds of comments about you specifically. "You" was just generic.
Sonne Times: Political and Social Commentary
http://jsonne.blogspot.com
James Sonne 8:10PM (9/07/2008)
Who cares about Pagani et al? What, do they make up 0.0000000001% of the vehicles on the road? I care a lot more about Ford, GM, Honda, and Toyota that make vehicles with emissions that could be improved upon even by a fraction of a mile per gallon, because that fraction is multiplied hundreds of thousands of times. Do Pagani and Koenigsegg even make a profit?
Aston Martin has been in business for DECADES without making a profit, buoyed by ownership from a larger car manufacturer, so the profits from a Ford Focus went to making sure more Aston Martins will be built. You buy a VW Jetta TDI and part of the cost of that car goes to making sure more W12 Quad Turbo Bugatti Veyrons and Porsche 911 Turbo GT3s can be manufactured and put on the road. That's the real issue here, not some arbitrary CO2eq limit set by some government body somewhere. Perhaps, we being capitalists, should simply buy from a manufacturer that has policies with which we agree. Buying a Toyota Prius means part of the cost of a Lexus LS is being subsidized for someone else. At least buying a used car doesn't give additional money to an auto manufacturer.
CO2eq emissions should be set, and enforced, but we shouldn't wait for the government to do our job for us. We should be smart, empowered consumers. You wouldn't donate money to charities with which you don't agree, just as you shouldn't buy a product from a company with which you don't agree. Don't whine about legislation when you're not willing to make the choices on your own.
Not directed at you or anyone in particular, cause I don't know you to make these kinds of comments about you specifically. "You" was just generic.
Sonne Times: Political and Social Commentary
http://jsonne.blogspot.com
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SteveCT 8:12PM (9/07/2008)
Not to quibble, but the Veyron has a W16 engine, not a W12. Other than that I pretty much agree.
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James Sonne 8:36PM (9/07/2008)
Yes, you are correct. Sorry about the multiple posting, as well.
Karl-Uwe Strunzen 10:06PM (9/07/2008)
One should remember why the EU are stepping back on their proposals, and the very limited effect this will have anyway. As to why, this is purely a technology issue. The Germans simply aren't capable (despite costing more than their counterparts) of introducing new technology to improve car emissions. A very good example of this is the common-rail engine, where the Germans trail the Multijet/HDi/dCi variants by over 8 years....At the heart of the issue are the latest manufacturer figures (for 2007) showing, yet again, Germany trailing the French/Italain counterparts dismally: 170, 181, and 163 g CO2/km (BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen) against 141, 141, 147 (Fiat, Peugeot, Renault). That's a whopping 30+g difference in averages, DESPITE German models costing more (another area where they trail are the EURONCAP ratings)
If you think that the Germans trail by such a huge amount simnply because of higher mass averages, think again: the main reason is that they trail INDEPENDENTLY of car class. Examples of this are common models such as the VW Golf and Passat, which wirgh the same of less than other models with lower emissions.
This following table illustrates this very well:
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/information/how-to-use-the-data-tables.asp#petrol
The only German model to make a dent on on this list is the 2-seater Smart, which STILL is outdone by several 4-seater rivals.
The table doesn't consider vehicle price, which would make a comparison with German models even rosier (VW Golf, Polo, Audi A3, Merc A-class)
In Bruxelles the Germans have been getting their way for some time now already:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/tag/worst-lobby-awards/
The effect that this may have is extremely limited if in the end individual countries take the lead on this issue, relegating Bruxelles to a very expensive theatrical role. Indeed the only purpose these EU debates can serve is to show just how useless the EU can be while Germany is a member state:
http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20080302_CO%202%20tax%20overview.pdf
these theatrics have been going on for so long now that ALL OF EUROPE EXCEPT GERMANY has already introduced string CO2-based incentives/disincentives...
Reply
Karl-Uwe Strunzen 10:09PM (9/07/2008)
One should remember why the EU are stepping back on their proposals, and the very limited effect this will have anyway. As to why, this is purely a technology issue. The Germans simply aren't capable (despite costing more than their counterparts) of introducing new technology to improve car emissions. A very good example of this is the common-rail engine, where the Germans trail the Multijet/HDi/dCi variants by over 8 years....At the heart of the issue are the latest manufacturer figures (for 2007) showing, yet again, Germany trailing the French/Italain counterparts dismally: 170, 181, and 163 g CO2/km (BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen) against 141, 141, 147 (Fiat, Peugeot, Renault). That's a whopping 30+g difference in averages, DESPITE German models costing more (another area where they trail are the EURONCAP ratings)
If you think that the Germans trail by such a huge amount simnply because of higher mass averages, think again: the main reason is that they trail INDEPENDENTLY of car class. Examples of this are common models such as the VW Golf and Passat, which wirgh the same of less than other models with lower emissions.
This following table illustrates this very well:
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/information/how-to-use-the-data-tables.asp#petrol
The only German model to make a dent on on this list is the 2-seater Smart, which STILL is outdone by several 4-seater rivals.
The table doesn't consider vehicle price, which would make a comparison with German models even rosier (VW Golf, Polo, Audi A3, Merc A-class)
In Bruxelles the Germans have been getting their way for some time now already:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/tag/worst-lobby-awards/
The effect that this may have is extremely limited if in the end individual countries take the lead on this issue, relegating Bruxelles to a very expensive theatrical role. Indeed the only purpose these EU debates can serve is to show just how useless the EU can be while Germany is a member state:
http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20080302_CO%202%20tax%20overview.pdf
these theatrics have been going on for so long now that ALL OF EUROPE EXCEPT GERMANY has already introduced string CO2-based incentives/disincentives...
Reply
wheelsontrack 1:19AM (10/10/2008)
Reduction of emmission is very important but it need a proper plan to curb emission rather destroying some of the finest comapnies, it needs efforts from manufacturers but guidance should also be provided by government agencies regarding how to reduce emission further.
Its easy to set targets but to achieve goals , laying path and taking everyone together is a difficult task
Visit for some great auto-information www.wheelsontrack.com
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