EU Sets New Light Commercial Vehicles CO2 Restrictions

With ever more vehicles crowding European roads and cities these days, pollution is becoming one of the European Parliament’s main concerns, as it affects the health and well-being of its citizens for the years to come.

As part of its CO2-cutting offensive, the European Parliament has voted to officially adopt a 175 grams per kilometer of CO2 short term and 147 grams per kilometer of CO2 long term target for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) running on the roads of the Old Continent.

“Industry is pleased that the European Parliament has come to a decision on CO2emission targets for LCVs as vehicle manufacturers are committed to lowering emissions as part of ongoing introductions of low, lower and ultra-low carbon vehicles,” said Paul Everitt, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Chief Executive. “The UK is well placed to capitalise on low carbon technologies and manufacturers now need government to demonstrate its support for sustained investment in skills, R&D and capital equipment.”

The new rules for LCVs follow the New Car CO2 Regulation, with each manufacturer having its own overall fleet average quota. Any carmaker’s target is based on the weight of each new LCV it registers in the EU in a given year.

The initial phase focuses on vehicles sold between 2014 and 2017. It imposes a 175-gram restriction in yearly stages (phased in with 70%, 75% and 80% of each manufacturers’ fleet complying in 2014-16 respectively and 100% from 2017 onwards). A longer-term target has also been announced at 147 grams per kilometer for the year 2020, and should be confirmed in a review in 2013.