Carmakers are delaying efficient cars

The report uses a wide range of sources to show that progress has stalled and many of the underlying trends are contrary to what is needed. Only six of top 50 car models were upgraded in 2017, however 21 will be re-launched as more fuel-efficient, low-carbon models in 2019-2020, the Brussels-based sustainable transport group Transport & Environment said in its most recent report. Battery electric models are expected to increase five-fold to 100 by 2021, increasing driving-range, choice, and competition. That means most European carmakers are set to meet EU’s 2021 CO2 reduction targets on time, the report adds. However, the move comes after European car constructors have pushed the sales of bigger cars, the organisation stressed in its report. “SUV sales have rocketed from 4 per cent in 2001 to 26 per cent in 2016 and the average SUV has emissions of 132 g/km compared to 118 g/km for a medium segment car. The increase in the average weight of new cars by 124kg from 2000 to 2016 led to a rise in average emissions of around 10g/km.” "Another common misunderstanding is that a fast fleet turnover is essential to lower CO2 emissions.There is a trade-off between measures to improve the efficiency of new cars and keeping cars cheap to encourage their early replacement." However, the report concludes that on a lifecycle basis, rapid fleet renewal actually increases emissions due to the additional releases during manufacture and disposal. "A vehicle lifetime of 15-20 years is optimal to minimise lifecycle emissions the typical lifetime of cars today." Sales of new cars and vans with engines must end by 2035 to ensure that by 2050 the fleet is fully decarbonised. To achieve the Paris climate goals transport emissions must be reduced by more than 90 per cent.