ACEA

Cars emit CO2 when burning fossil fuels, such as petrol, diesel or gas. This means the less fossil fuel a car uses, the less CO2 is produced. Hence, fossil-fuel economy is a major key to reducing CO2 emissions from cars. Fuel-economy, or fuel-efficiency when calculated in kilometres per litre, can be achieved in several ways.

 
• Technology-linked solutions, such as improved engine   efficiency, vehicle weight reduction or better aerodynamics, and, on the   longer term, engines on non-fossil fuels like hydrogen
 
• Fuel based solutions, using low or even zero carbon fuels
 
• Infrastructure related solutions, ensuring traffic   flows and avoiding congestion
 
• Car use related solutions, concerning means of transport, choice of car, “eco-driving” or driving style, and the amount of kilometres driven.

Emission sources: Man-made CO2 emissions account for 3.5% of the total CO2 produced naturally and by man, and of this, globally, 25% is caused by emissions from power stations, 23% from domestic activities and 26% from transport, according to the European Commission. In Europe, passenger cars contribute 12% of man-made CO2.

Road Transport: Although new cars now emit significantly less CO2, road transport (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) remains one of the few sectors where emissions keep rising. This is due to the growth of freight transport, of vehicle ownership and of increased mileage. In EU-25, between 1995 and 2003, motorists increased their annual mileage by 16.4%. It is obvious that only a comprehensive approach can cost-effectively address this reality. Climate change is a complex and global problem that can only be tackled when efforts are combined, efforts from the car industry, the fuel industry, policy makers and drivers.