Chilling Out on CO2 Emissions for Cars: EU Commission's Proposal
Anticipated determination on relaxing carbon emissions standards for automobiles possibly by Thursday - Car CO2 Emission Limits Review Scheduled for Thursday
Gear up, car manufacturers! The European Union Commission's got your back as they've proposed a breath of fresh air for you. This lifeline aims to ease the strap of the 2022 CO2 emissions for your new vehicles, allowing you to offset those emissions with the stats of the following years [1][2][5]. Any delays this year will be forgiven as long as you make up for it in 2026 and 2027 [2][5].
This relaxation pertains to the so-called fleet limits, regulations that govern the average carbon dioxide emissions from the new cars sold by a manufacturer. Each manufacturer has their own set limit, and they've been steadily decreasing this year, with the target of hitting zero by 2035 - effectively phasing out new internal combustion engines [3].
Buckle up, heavyweights like Volkswagen and Renault are finding these revved-up emissions standards hard to meet. They've pleaded for some wiggle room in Brussels, as missing EU targets could mean hefty fines [3].
On top of this proposed relaxation, the law already offers another escape route - entering partnerships with competitors, known as pools. With an average limit applying, this can help manufacturers dodge those pesky penalties [3].
Before the big vote on Thursday, the European Parliament could theoretically amend the rules even further - maybe tweaking the combustion engine phase-out that conservative and far-right politicians want to roll back in the long run. But this would require negotiations with the 27 EU governments [4].
Come the end of the year, there'll be a full review of the law. By then, the phase-out of combustion engines might stir up a storm in Germany's new political landscape. Unlike the Union, the SPD is keen to uphold the phase-out commitment, and both sides can only agree on a general agreement in the coalition agreement [4].
Sources:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/eu-car-emissions-standards-how-stringent-they-are-2021-12-10/[2] https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/eu-backs-down-strict-emissions-rules-presented-carmakers[3] https://edition.cnn.com/eu/live-news/european-parliament-vote-car-emissions- limits-climate-b1878954a-hs-intl[4] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/factbox-eu-parliament-vote-set-major- changes-to-car-emissions-rules-2021-12-14/[5] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20211130-breathe-easy-cars-will-be-less-polluting-in-future
Categories:- Automotive- European Parliament- EU- Strasbourg- Ursula von der Leyen
- The European Union Commission's proposal offers car manufacturers a relaxation in the 2022 CO2 emissions, allowing for offsetting with the stats of future years, such as 2026 and 2027.
- The proposal revolves around the fleet limits, a set of regulations defining the average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars sold by manufacturers, with a goal of reducing these emissions to zero by 2035.
- Car manufacturers like Volkswagen and Renault have expressed difficulty in meeting the current emissions standards, thus seeking flexibility in Brussels to avoid potential fines.
- In addition to the proposed relaxation, manufacturers can also avoid penalties by entering partnerships with competitors, known as pools, where an average limit applies.
- Before the vote on Thursday, the European Parliament has the potential to amend the rules further, possibly tweaking the combustion engine phase-out, with negotiations required with the 27 EU governments.
- By the end of the year, there will be a full review of the law, with potential impact on the phase-out of combustion engines in Germany's new political landscape, as the SPD aims to uphold the phase-out commitment.
