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EU Parliament votes for more efficient car A/C |
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The European Parliament in full recommends to reflect emissions from air conditioning in test cycles and on advertising material, as part of the upcoming EU strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from cars. It also voted to give carmakers more time to meet emission reduction targets.
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2007-10-24
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In their final report adopted on 24 October, the Members of Parliament (MEPs) ask the European Commission to address all greenhouse gas emissions from a vehicle, including those attributable to the air conditioning system. To do this, they urge the Commission to:- introduce new measurements and standards to associate CO2 vehicle emissions reductions with high efficiency air conditioning,
- adopt new test cycles to reflect real driving conditions, and
- require carmakers to include air conditioning test results in all advertising material, i.e. specify the fuel consumption due to the AC system in promotional literature and showrooms.
Advertising to reflect fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
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Overall, the MEPs backed the proposal by its Environment Committee to dedicate at least 20% of the advertising space for new cars to fuel economy and CO2 emissions information: "We have had our fingers burnt through voluntary codes (...). It is time that advertisements give consumers more details of the fuel economy and emission performance of the vehicles on sale. This information should be upfront and not buried away in the small print. We need to encourage car makers to compete on the basis that their cars are safe and stylish and environmentally-friendly," Chris Davies, the Parliament's rapporteur on the issue, said.
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Parliament favours 125 g/km CO2 target by 2015
In its final report, the EP will also call for legislation to cap average CO2 emissions from all new cars to 125 g/km by 2015 by "technical means alone", i.e. without relying on other CO2 saving measures, such as improvements in air-conditioning systems. It is thus proposing stricter limits than the European Commission, giving, however, the auto industry three more years to comply with legislation. As of 2020, the Parliament report states, such average emissions should not exceed 95g CO2/km. The Commission had proposed a target of 130 g/km by 2012.
Next steps
The Parliament position will now be considered by the European Commission when it is drafting its final proposal for a EU CO2 emissions strategy. The Commission proposal, originally scheduled for mid-December 2007, is now likely to be part of a greater climate change and energy package expected by January 2008.
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More information:
 CO2 emissions Strategy, Provisional Text adopted by the EP 24 Oct 2007 - Relevant part for AC and advertising on page 85-86 (700 KB)
Plenary speech MEP Chris Davies, 22 October 2007 (23 KB)
› Read the article: "EP Committee votes on CO2 emissions strategy", 13 September
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