For the first time, average CO2 emissions from the fleet of new vans registered in the EU and Iceland increased in 2018, while the upward trend in emissions from new passenger cars continued for the second consecutive year, according to provisional data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on Monday 24 June.
New vans emitted an average of 148.1 grams of CO2 per kilometre, 2.0 grams more than in 2017. This is mainly due to the increase in the mass, engine capacity and size of the vehicles, according to the EEA.
The market share of petrol also increased constituting 3.6 % of the new vans fleet in 2018 (from 2.4% in 2017). The share of zero- and low-emission vans remained at the same level (1.7 %) as in 2017. Further efficiency improvements are needed to reach the EU target of 147 g CO2/km set for 2020, the EEA stresses.
Further increase in car emissions. For new passenger cars, average emissions increased by 2.0 g CO2/km in 2018. They had already increased by 0.4 g in 2017, after a steady decrease of almost 22 g CO2/km between 2010 and 2016 (see EUROPE 12230/12).
Among the main factors contributing to the increase in new car emissions in 2018 was the growing share of petrol cars in new registrations, particularly in the sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment. Moreover, the market penetration of zero- and low-emission vehicles, including electric cars, remained slow in 2018.
With the target of 95 g CO2/km by 2021 approaching, much faster deployment of cars with low emissions is needed across Europe., the EEA points out.
The EU has just adopted new regulations setting more ambitious targets for reducing CO2 emissions from the European fleet of new cars and vans for the period after 2020/2021, with incentives for placing on the market zero- or low-emission vehicles (see EUROPE 12236/23). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)