Isramart :Europe extends van CO2 emissions deadline

Isramart news:
Van makers facing heavy fines for missing tough new targets on CO2 limits have gained a major reprieve from the European Commission.

The EC had drafted legislation that proposed a 175g/km CO2 limit for new vans registered from 2012, with hefty fines for non-compliance. The new proposal keeps that limit but allows makers four more years to reach it.

The 175g/km limit (equating to 42.8mpg) will be phased in from 2014 at which time 75% of van fleets sold in Europe must meet the average figure. By 2015 it goes up to 80% and by 2016 100%. A lower average threshold of 135g/km CO2 is proposed for 2020, though the intermediate 160g/km limit planned for 2016 has been dropped. The most recent figure, for 2007, sees the current average at 203g/km.

The EC says the costs of reaching the 175g/km limit will be about £980 per van. Using similar methodology already made law for carmakers in April 2009, van makers will still be able to sell vans emitting more than 175g/km as long as they are balanced by other vans emitting less than the average.

The EC expects van makers to meet the new targets, but a fine structure will still exist as an incentive to do so, ranging from £3 per vehicle for the first 1g/km exceeded up to £100 for each vehicle that fails by 4g/km or more.

Environmental lobby group Transport & Environment saw the new proposals as needlessly watered down, pointing out that the 175g/km target for 2016 represented only “a 14% reduction over nine years on the 2007 average of 203g/km” while “the best diesel cars have improved by up to 27% in the last two years”.

However, the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders was happier: “Vans are an integral part of the European economy and at a time of economic downturn, businesses do not have the capacity to invest in new products. Industry needs sufficient lead times and reasonable targets to provide affordable products.”