European Court of Auditors: course correction is necessary
EU CO2 TARGETS Test bench measurements of CO2 emissions do not always provide realistic values. Electric cars are probably the most important factor in reducing emissions, but their sales figures are not increasing fast enough.
The CO2-The EU's reduction targets for new passenger cars cannot be achieved as long as important requirements are not met. This is the conclusion of a report by the European Court of Auditors. Despite ambitious targets and strict requirements, most cars on Europe's roads still emit so much CO2 as they were twelve years ago. Electric cars can help on the road to a zero-emission vehicle fleet. However, efforts to achieve this need to be shifted up a gear.
Pietro Russo, the Court of Auditors' audit manager: "The EU's green revolution can only take place if there are significantly fewer polluting vehicles in circulation. We are facing an enormous challenge here. The CO2-emissions will only really decrease when the combustion engine loses its dominant position."
Still too many combustion engines
In September 2017 - not least because of the diesel scandal - a new laboratory test cycle was introduced that reflects actual driving conditions. The effective emissions of conventional cars have not decreased, the inspectors emphasize. Technical advances have made engines more efficient. However, this is offset by higher vehicle weight and more engine power. Hybrid vehicles also produce significantly higher emissions in practical driving conditions than those measured in the laboratory.
Removing hurdles for e-cars
There are still numerous hurdles, as the EU has considerable difficulties in helping electric cars achieve a breakthrough. The first hurdle that needs to be overcome is access to raw materials for the production of sufficient batteries. The available charging infrastructure also needs to be improved. And finally, the price is also crucial. The higher purchase costs for electric cars could encourage consumers to drive their old vehicles for longer.
