Cleaner air to breathe. This is the primary goal of the EU legislators as they pass onto a law a proposal to lower new car CO2 emissions to 130 g/km by 2015.
The new requirement translates to a fuel mileage of 52 mpg for petrol cars and 58 mpg for diesel powered vehicles. The program aims to have 65% compliance by 2012, 75% by 2013, and a completion by 2015. Violators will face heavy fines on a per gram of CO2 emitted basis.
Car manufacturers express their support for being earth friendly but are also very vocal about the challenges that they must face to comply with the law.
A lot of moves have been made by the auto industry to contribute in the strategy of conserving the environment. Car manufacturers are among the leading sectors spending a hefty sum of money for research and development to further strengthen the cause of CO2 emission reduction.
The production lines of vehicles have significantly decreased their energy consumption by 12%, land fill usage by 25%, and water utilization by 12%.
In turn, the car manufacturers are asking the EU governments to support their long term and short term development and manufacturing efforts amid the global financial crisis.
The current economic difficulties faced today pushes automakers against the wall and force them to cut on expenditures and allocations to key projects for research and development. They are seeking billions of loans to support the transport industry.
Like in the US, the European car industry serves as the backbone of success for the European economies. Car manufacturers provide around 13 million indirect and direct employments.
One Comment
I think that the challenge would be easily solved if the scientists from the major auto manufacturers would come together and work together on a low-co2 emission technology. But this will never happen in a thousand years without each auto manufacturer withholding critical information that they’re invested money to acquire.