New car emissions fall 3.5 per cent in 2010
A new report shows emissions from new cars in the UK has dropped 3.5 per cent in 2010 and by 20 per cent in 2000, further emphasising cars manufacturers ability to meet EU targets. The Department for businesses announces £10 million of funding for three projects to develop low-carbon vehicles.
Emissions from new cars in the UK has fallen 3.5 per cent in 2010, and 20 per cent since 2000, according to a new report (16 March) from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The lower emissions have resulted in CO2 emissions reductions from the entire UK car fleet dropping by 7.8 per cent since 2000, despite the number of cars in use, and averaged distance travelled increasing during the same period.
The report found that in 2010, almost 40 per cent of cars had emissions below the European fleet targets for 2015, 130g/km CO2.
The 2010 Transport and Environment Car Company CO2 Report showed similar trends. It found European Car makers had made significant progress in lowering emissions that would mean achieving reduction targets years ahead of time.
Toyota, for example, met their 2015 targets prior to the report being released and six years in advance of the target, according to the report, which called for the focus to begin including vans as well as cars.
Jos Dings, director of Transport & Environment said: “Three years ago the car industry said it could not deliver car CO2 targets on time but is now set to achieve them years ahead of schedule. Now the same industry is saying van CO2 limits cannot be met; it is time the credibility of these claims was questioned.”
The SMMT report looks specifically at new UK cars but does state manufacturers are now also looking at emissions of vans and commercial vehicles.
The report acknowledges that there is still significant potential to make further reductions in emissions, but believes this will become more challenging with the need for investment in new technologies.
Paul Everett, Chief Executive at SMMT said: “New technology has delivered impressive reductions in CO2 emissions but coordinated action, to support research and development, new infrastructure and consumer incentives, is critical to securing significant future advances.”
This report comes as the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announces a £10 million funding for new research and development (R&D) projects into low-carbon vehicles.
The funding, from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) will go towards three projects covering scientific and engineering issues including hybrid electric vehicles subsystems; the using recycled and recyclable materials for manufacturing vehicles; and optimising the performance of electric cars.
Dave Delpy, Chief Executive of the EPSRC said: “The provisions of high quality academic research ideas provides the basis for business to translate science into the vehicle market.”
The three projects receiving funding will be based at Loughborough, Brunel and Warwick Universities.
Image: David H Bolton | flickr