Oz detox on CO2
BY TERRY MARTIN | 3rd Apr 2008
The latest National Average Carbon Emissions (NACE) figures show that CO2 emissions from new light vehicles in Australia reached a new low in 2007, recording an average of 226.1g/km compared to 230.3 g/km in 2006. Over the past five years, the industry has achieved a reduction of more than 10 per cent in average emissions.
According to FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar, the enhanced availability of more advanced fuels was an important element in reducing emissions further.
“Improvements in engine technology, changes in market segmentation, as well as an increased uptake in alternative fuels such as clean diesel, are being reflected in the lower carbon emissions,” he said. “(But) a number of low-emission technologies rely on improved quality fuels that are not yet available in Australia.”
Mr McKellar said the Australian experience contrasted to with many other countries, particularly in Europe, where CO2 emissions have remained “almost unchanged”.
“These (Australian) figures demonstrate that the industry is continuing to implement new technology to lower the impact passenger cars have on the environment,” he said.
In 2003, local manufacturers entered into a voluntary agreement to achieve an average fuel economy figure of 6.8L/100km for all passenger cars by 2010. However, that code – which was later decreed an impossible target, based on the current crop of engines powering Australian-built cars – was changed in 2005, when the FCAI adopted a new CO2 emissions target of 222g/km by 2010.
The change coincided with the adoption in Australia of the Euro III emissions standard, which took a greater account of emissions levels than fuel economy. In 2002 the industry average was 252g/km.
All new vehicles sold in Australia are required to report emissions in terms of CO2 g/km. NACE is calculated using emissions data and the FCAI’s new-vehicle sales data (VFACTS). NACE is simply the average grams of CO2 emitted per kilometre of all new light vehicles sold in Australia. The chart shows the continuous improvement in average new-vehicle emissions and that the 2010 target should be comfortably achieved.