The proposal by the EU to delay introducing new limits on CO2 emissions for passenger cars from 2020 to 2024 should not deter the automotive industry from striving to meet the existing targets set on all new fleet model cars, and should actually be seen as a call to action for organisations to invest in R&D in order to drive innovation, according to Barry James, Chief Technology Officer from Romax Technology.
Environment ministers have agreed to revise a deal which originally set a limit of 95g of CO2 per km for the average car to take effect from 2020. Because of pressure from the German government this has now changed to see 80 per cent of vehicles migrated by 2020 with all vehicles complying by 2024.
James stated that while this move has sparked much debate, car manufacturers should not be discouraged from continuing to meet the existing targets as well as driving innovation across the field of low carbon emissions:
“The revised ruling has certainly sparked much deliberation within the automotive industry as well as the wider community, especially those concerned that the move has been perceived to weaken the original limits set by the EU. Amongst all the discussion, it’s imperative that car manufacturers don’t lose sight of the original goals – to drive innovation through new technologies that deliver more efficient and less polluting cars.”