EU car lobby chief: Why we support a 20% CO2 target for 2030
There is “no way” carmakers can hit the EU’s proposed CO2 emission targets with fuel combustion engines, argues Erik Jonnaert, saying “at least half” of the reduction will have to come from electric and hybrid vehicles.
Erik Jonnaert is the secretary general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). He spoke to EURACTIV’s energy and environment editor Frédéric Simon on 17 January, before the latest emission scandal involving German car manufacturer Volkswagen.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS:
- New test cycle means the existing CO2 target for 2020 is effectively 85gCO2/km, not 95g.
- This makes the 2030 proposal – -30% on the 2020 objective – harder to achieve.
- “At least half” of the reduction will have to come from electric or hybrid vehicles.
- Next to electric, there is “an opportunity for gas”.
- “Diesel will still be part of the mix”, first as a transition technology
The European Commission tabled a proposal on CO2 emissions standards for cars last November. Under the plan, average emissions for new cars sold on the market by 2030 should be 30% lower than the existing target for 2021 of 95gCO2/km. Do you believe this target can be met, as the Commission argues?
For us, it’s too aggressive. We’ve been very clear from the start, it’s important for us to come up with realistic figures, taking into account market realities. And that’s why we support a 20% target for 2030.
So why 20%? It’s a figure that relates to an impact assessment that the Commission itself has made when it tabled its climate and energy package for 2030 a couple of years ago. And there were calculations made for sectors that are subject to emissions trading [energy and other large industries] and those that are not [agriculture, transport and buildings]. And there, the 20% was considered to be a realistic target in 2030 for the automotive sector.
The figure also takes into account that the starting point from where the 20% will be calculated is actually going to be less than 95g/km.
How did you come to that conclusion?
In the current regulation, the target for 2020 is set at 95gCO2/km, according to the testing method that was applicable then. But as from September 2017, a new test cycle entered into force which is more stringent.
So in practice, this means the 95g CO2 target becomes 85.
Who did this analysis?
The calculation was made by an independent agency, JATO Dynamics, according to a formula developed by the Commission.
Is this analysis accepted by the European Commission or not?
Well, they know there is a difference but they tell us to deal with it. Officially, they will still say 95g is the target. That’s why meeting the target in 2020 is going to be quite a challenge already, and some manufacturers are already expecting to pay penalties.
But the Commission proposal also completely disregards where manufacturers will be in 2020. So even if you haven’t met the target, the starting point will be the same, assuming that you have met it.
So taking all of this into account, our conclusion is that the 20% target that we advocate for 2030, in fact, more or less compares to the 30% proposed by the Commission.
