European Court of Auditors: Car emissions are not decreasing - e-cars hardly help
The EU's CO2 reduction targets for new passenger cars are unattainable as long as important prerequisites are missing: this is the sobering conclusion of a recently published report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
"Despite ambitious goals and strict requirements, most passenger cars on Europe's roads still emit as much CO2 as they did 12 years ago. Electric cars can help the EU on its way to an emission-free vehicle fleet. However, efforts in this regard need to be significantly ramped up," summarize the auditors.
Since 2010, an EU-wide target for the average CO2 emissions of all newly registered vehicles has been mandated by the Passenger Car CO2 Regulation. Additionally, each manufacturer must report the CO2 emissions of their vehicles in so-called certificates of conformity and pay a levy if they exceed certain emission limits. The requirements have increased over time: by 2035, no emissions should be produced at all.
"The EU's green revolution can only occur if significantly fewer environmentally harmful vehicles are in circulation. Here, we face an enormous challenge," says Pietro Russo, the Court of Auditors member responsible for the audit.
The CO2 emissions of vehicles would only really decrease when the combustion engine loses its dominant position, Russo states soberly. However, from his perspective, the electrification of the EU vehicle fleet is very complex. In the 2010s, car manufacturers exploited loopholes in testing norms to achieve lower emissions in laboratory tests, Russo continues.
Less Difference in the New Cycle
The difference from the actual emissions produced in practical driving was enormous. Therefore, in September 2017 – partly as a consequence of the diesel scandal – a new laboratory test cycle, reflecting actual driving conditions, was mandatorily introduced. This has effectively reduced, though not eliminated, the discrepancy between laboratory-measured and practically produced emissions.
Real emissions of combustion engine cars still stagnate
Inspectors note that the actual emissions of conventional cars—which still accounted for nearly three-quarters of new registrations—have not decreased. Over the past ten years, emissions from diesel vehicles have remained constant, while they have slightly decreased for gasoline vehicles (-4.6%). Although technical advancements have made engines more efficient, this has been offset by increased vehicle weight (on average around +10%) and higher engine power (on average around +25%).
Hybrids also emit more in real conditions than in tests
The same applies to hybrid vehicles. They tend to cause significantly higher emissions in practical driving conditions than those measured in the lab. To better reflect the actual situation, the proportional use of the electric motor and the combustion engine should be more accurately recorded, but not until 2025. Until then, plug-in hybrids will continue to be treated as low-emission vehicles—to the advantage of automakers. This allows manufacturers to continue to apply some provisions of the CO2 regulation, saving them almost 13 billion euros in penalties for exceeding emissions in 2020 alone, criticize the inspectors.
Only electric cars bring actual (slight) reductions
According to EU inspectors, the decline in average CO2 emissions in practical driving conditions recorded in recent years is solely thanks to electric cars. While in 2018 only one in a hundred newly registered vehicles was an electric car, by 2022 it was nearly one in seven. Nonetheless, inspectors see numerous hurdles ahead, as the EU continues to face significant difficulties in giving electric cars a breakthrough.
In the End, the Price is Decisive
The first hurdle is access to raw materials for the production of sufficient batteries, as highlighted in a recently published report by the Court of Auditors. Previously, EU auditors had pointed out that the available charging infrastructure is inadequate: 70% of all charging stations for car batteries in the EU are concentrated in just three countries: the Netherlands, France, and Germany. Finally, the price is decisive: The higher purchase costs for electric cars could lead consumers to keep their old, environmentally harmful vehicles for longer.
Emissions: Traffic is Stalling
Over the past 30 years, the EU has managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in many areas. However, CO2 emissions caused by traffic have continued to increase. In 2021, they accounted for 23% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions; more than half of these emissions were caused by passenger cars. Manufacturers can reduce CO2 emissions by producing vehicles with lower fuel consumption and zero-emission vehicles such as electric vehicles, or by combining these two technologies (in the form of plug-in hybrids).
The regulation on CO2 emission standards for new passenger cars is the most important EU legislative act for reducing CO2 emissions from new cars. It has been in effect since 2009 and was significantly amended in 2019. For the purposes of the regulation, CO2 emissions from individual vehicles are measured under standardized conditions in a laboratory and not on the road. Special Report 01/2024 "Reducing CO2 Emissions from Cars: Measures Are Finally Gaining Momentum, but Challenges Still Lie Ahead" is available on the European Court of Auditors' website.
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