European new car CO2 emissions drop, but still above target levels

Quantum Commodity Intelligence - The average new car's carbon dioxide emissions in the EU, Norway and the UK fell 12% in 2020 from a year earlier amid a surge in demand for electric cars, although emissions levels were still above the EU target, according to the European Environmental Agency.

Electric vehicles accounted for 11% of new registration in 2020 in Europe, including the UK and Norway, and average new car emissions in the EU, Norway and the UK fell to 107.8 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (g CO2/km), down 14.5 grams from 2019 and the first decrease since 2016.

But Norway and the UK, where many of the new electric cars were sold, will not count in the EU current target of 95 g CO2/km for the period 2020 to 2024.

The current rules, which also state carmakers must lower CO2 emissions from their fleets by 37.5% below a baseline level this year by 2030 or face heavy fines, are also going to be tightened again.

Brussels is expected to introduce a target as high as 50% below 2021 to bolster the number of electric vehicles sold across Europe.

The European Commission will present its 2030 climate policy package on July 14.

The EU also has a target for average van emissions of 147 CO2/km for 2020 to 2024.

About 1.4 million new vans registered in the EU, UK and Norway in 2020 with average emissions of 157.7 grams CO2/km, which was 2.3 grams lower than in 2019.

The share of electric vans rose from 1.4% in 2019 to about 2.3% in 2020.