Abstract:

Reducing CO2 emissions from all new cars and accelerating the uptake of zero emission models is essential to prevent a climate emergency. This is not a silver bullet - local and national policies need to reduce car ownership and use and promote active travel and shared mobility, which are also important. The EU car CO2 law setting a 95 g/km target for 2020/21 agreed a decade ago was intended to achieve a step change in car emissions crucial to decarbonising transport. But just 16 months before the target comes into force carmakers are less than halfway towards their goals. This report examines why progress has been so slow and shows targets should still be met if companies invest to deliver the planned production goals for electric vehicles (both zero emission and plug-in hybrid models) and to make conventional cars more efficient.