A recently published report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) found that CO2 emissions from cars in the EU have not fallen despite stricter regulations and increased average targets. The report concludes that while electric cars could make an important contribution to reducing emissions, their share is not growing fast enough to make a significant difference.
The ECA notes that most cars on European roads still emit as much CO2 as they did 12 years ago. This is despite the fact that the EU has set a target for the average CO2 emissions of all newly registered vehicles since 2010. In addition, car manufacturers have to declare the CO2 emissions of their vehicles in so-called certificates of conformity and pay a levy if they exceed certain emission targets.
Pietro Russo, the Member of the Court of Auditors responsible for the audit, states that CO2 emissions from vehicles will only really decrease when the combustion engine loses its dominant position. However, the electrification of the EU vehicle fleet is complex and car manufacturers have in the past used loopholes in testing standards to achieve lower emissions in laboratory tests.
Despite the introduction of a new laboratory test cycle in 2017 that reflects actual driving conditions, actual emissions from conventional cars, which still account for almost three quarters of new registrations, have not fallen. Technical advances have made engines more efficient, but this is offset by higher vehicle weight and increased engine power.
In addition, hybrid vehicles that produce significantly higher emissions in practical driving than measured in the laboratory will continue to be treated as low-emission vehicles until 2025. This will allow manufacturers to continue to apply some provisions of the CO2 Regulation and avoid charges for exceeding emissions.
According to the EU inspectors, the decline in average CO2 emissions in real-world driving recorded in recent years is entirely due to electric cars. However, they still see numerous hurdles to the breakthrough of electric cars, such as access to raw materials for the production of sufficient batteries and an inadequate charging infrastructure. In addition, the higher purchase costs for electric cars are an obstacle for many consumers.
It remains to be seen whether the EU can achieve its CO2 reduction targets of being climate-neutral by 2025. The ECA report makes it clear that a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions is needed, including not only stricter regulations but also an accelerated electrification of the vehicle fleet. However, this will only be possible if electric vehicles are also affordable for the end consumer and the charging infrastructure is expanded.