EMISSIONS EU VEHICLE LEGISLATIONS
47
EUEU Limit Limit Value Value 3500
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
3000
2900
2800
2700
2600
2500
2400
2300
2200
2100
2000
1900
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
0
CO2 Emissions Limit 2012-2015
1200
CO2 Emission Limit g/km
CO2 Emissions Limit (g/km)
3000
Vehicle Vehicle MassMass (kg) (kg)
Penalties for OEMs in the EU The EU is one of the regions that apply penalties to vehicle manufacturers. From 2012 onwards, legislation has been in force that states a target level of emissions for a given vehicle mass. The fleet average mass therefore has an associated target of tailpipe emissions of CO2 in g/km. There is a penalty in Euros (EUR) per gramme of CO2 that the target is missed by. So if a manufacturer matches or betters their target, no penalty needs to be paid. There is also a staggered approach where the first gramme over target costs EUR 5, the second EUR 15, the third EUR 25 and the fourth and over is EUR 95. From 2019, every gramme over the target will cost EUR 95 Emissions limits are set according to the mass of the vehicle, using a limit value curve (actually, a straight line). The limit value curve is set in such a way that a fleet average of 130 grammes of CO2 per kilometre is achieved by 2015. The limit value curve means that heavier cars are allowed higher emissions than lighter cars while preserving the overall fleet average. Only the fleet average is regulated, so manufacturers are still able to make vehicles with emissions above the limit value curve provided these are balanced by vehicles below the curve.
The fleet average of 130 g/km will be phased in between 2012 and 2015. In 2012, an average of 65% of each manufacturer’s newly registered cars must comply with the limit value curve. This will rise to 75% in 2013, 80% in 2014 and the full 100% from 2015 onwards. There is a long term target to further reduce the fleet average emissions to 95 g/km for the year 2020 however; this proposal requires approval by the European Parliament and Council to become law. It is recognised that small volume manufacturers (SVMs) do not have the R&D budgets that large manufacturers have and they are less likely to be able to invest in technologies that will reduce tailpipe CO2. SVMs are defined as manufacturers that sell less than 10,000 vehicles in the EU and as such, they can apply for a derogation. This derogation effectively sets a higher CO2 target than the regulation based purely on vehicle weight alone, and is a much more manageable target to meet. The derogation lasts up to five years and can be re-negotiated however; it would not be taken gladly if an SVM is not seen to be making changes to reduce their overall CO2 emissions. Many SVMs for example Porsche and Ferrari, SPRING 2014 proActive magazine