Zero-emission goal still eludes the EU, where most cars emit the same CO2 levels as 12 years ago
Most passenger cars in the European Union still emit the same quantity of carbon dioxide as 12 years ago, the European Union’s auditing agency warned on Wednesday.
The European Court of Auditors said the 27-nation bloc must “shift up gear” to come close to a zero-emissions car fleet, with electric vehicles playing a crucial role.
“The EU’s green revolution can only happen if there are far fewer polluting vehicles, but the challenge is huge”, said Pietro Russo, the ECA member who led the audit. “A true and tangible reduction in cars’ CO2 emissions will not occur as long as the combustion engine prevails, but at the same time, electrifying the EU’s car fleet is a major undertaking.”
According to the auditors’ report, real emissions from conventional cars, which still account for nearly three-quarters of new vehicle registrations, have not dropped.
But if people are not able to afford electric cars explain to me why they are able to afford ever bigger ICE cars in the form of SUVs. There are hardly any sedans sold today, it is all SUVs who are wasteful and more polluting.
That's not true. In the EU the best selling models are mostly small cars.
Best selling car models in Europe
The vast majority of cars sold here are small used cars, most people don't buy new cars around here. Like most cars you see on the streets are a decade old and maybe once old ass electric cars appear in the used car market there will be a switch.
Battery cost is a big problem, it amounts to around 20% of total vehicle cost. If you would buy a used car, you probably will need to replace it sometime soon. Battery currentlly costs more than a lot of people spend for their whole used ICE car.
Yea, that would mean focusing on EVs here is pretty much a meaningless effort and it would be better served to focus on public transit instead. At least until you can get a good EV for like 5k.
It is great that if someone now buys a new car, they chose EV or hybrid, but this change will definitely hurt those who prefer or can afford only cheap used cars.
Quite a problem in near future. Probably only breakthrough in battery tech (new type, re-use possibilities) will solve this and drive cost down for vehicles.
Because if I spend 50k on an ICE car, I get a really manly truck which makes me feel important and not like a wimp driving a car that makes me look poor!
I am so surprised that this stone age reasoning still works so well with cars.
"But I need the space! ... once every two years..."
Same with fuel efficiency: "My big ass penis enlargement SUV gets the same mileage like my tiny sedan did 30 years ago, so it's not worse for the environment!" - "But a car the size of your tiny sedan 30 years ago would now be twice as efficient?" - "Does not matter, I will use up the transportatin CO2 footprint that has been allotted to me, why should I give something up for the benefit of everyone , especially something important like a antiquated status symbol?"
In Europe the best selling models are mostly cheap small cars. Not big SUVs.
Best selling car models in Europe.
Can't agree more
Uh, errrr, because well you see…