According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), changes in buying behavior, improved technology and engine efficiency are responsible for increasing efficiency of the European automobile fleet.
Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director, EEA, also highlighted the increase in sales of electric cars.
20 June 2012: The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released a report titled “Monitoring CO2 emissions from new passenger cars in the EU: summary of data for 2011” which indicates that fuel efficiency of new vehicles increased by 3.3% in the EU from 2010-2011.
The average carbon dioxide emissions for 12.8 million cars sold was 135.7 grams carbon dioxide per kilometre, which is 4.6g carbon dioxide/km less than in 2010, or a reduction of 3.3 %. According to the EEA analysis, changes in buying behavior, improved technology and engine efficiency are responsible for these improvements. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director, EEA, also highlighted the increase in sales of electric cars.
In the EU, carbon dioxide emissions from road transport have increased by 23% between 1990 and 2010, which is approximately one fifth of the EU’s total emissions. Carmakers have a collective target for the average car sold in the EU to emit a maximum of 130g carbon dioxide/km by 2015 and 95g carbon dioxide/km by 2020. On average, the car industry is on track to meeting the 2015 carbon dioxide target.
The most carbon-efficient cars are registered in Portugal, Malta and Denmark. Estonia, Latvia and Bulgaria have the least carbon-efficient cars registered. [EEA Press Release] [Publication: Monitoring CO2 Emissions from New Passenger Cars in the EU: Summary of Data for 2011]