Oz Needs More Green Vehicles, Government Says

The Australian auto industry is told new cars will need a tenfold improvement in carbon-dioxide emissions by 2050 if transportation is to play its part in meeting the federal government’s target of an 80% reduction in emissions by then.

Commissioner Frank Muller of the National Transport Commission issues this warning as he reports there was a 2.8% reduction in CO2 emitted from new vehicles last year.

“If Australians had made greener purchasing decisions in 2011, carbon emissions from new cars and light-commercial vehicles could have been cut by over a third,” Muller tells a “Cars of Tomorrow” conference in Melbourne.

The NTC report says the national average of CO2 emissions from new cars and light-commercial vehicles was 206.6 g/km in 2011.

It says 15 auto makers sold 93% of the new light vehicles in Australia, most of them imports. Of these, Suzuki had the lowest average corporate emissions (161 g/km) and Nissan the highest (226 g/km).

Average emissions from Australian-made light vehicles fell 6.9% to 230 g/km.

“While there were more green vehicles available for sale in 2011, these vehicles were not amongst the best-selling vehicles,” an NTC statement says.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries CEO Ian Chalmers says significant improvements in vehicle technology have resulted in new cars in the Australian market recording their lowest-ever CO2 emissions.

He says car buyers look for vehicles that meet their aspirations and their needs, and CO2 emission reduction is only one of the factors they consider when choosing a new vehicle.

“The average new car sold in Australia is now at least 20% more efficient than it was in 2000,” Chalmers says in a statement. “It is the preferences of Australian car buyers, however, that ultimately will determine the fleet’s CO2 profile.”

The 2.8% drop in CO2 emissions in 2011 was one of the most significant yearly improvements and demonstrates the industry’s commitment to building cleaner, more fuel-efficient products, he says.

“The result is a combination of improvements in vehicle technology and a change in consumer buying preferences toward lower-emission vehicles.”

“There has been a strong uptake in new-generation diesel- and hybrid-powered vehicles by consumers. In addition, ongoing efficiency improvements in average emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles by almost 7% indicates consumers are continuing to purchase more-efficient models across the new vehicle fleet.”

Chalmers calls the NTC report a useful addition to discussions about the auto industry’s CO2 emissions, but emphasizes that purchasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle is only one part of the solution to reducing emissions from passenger transport.

“A comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions from vehicles is needed – which includes vehicle maintenance, removing inefficient vehicles from the fleet, driver behavior, road congestion and public transport,” he says.

By the end of this year, about 30 new environmentally friendly models will be on sale in Australia, Chalmers says. This will give drivers a choice between electric, hybrid, liquefied- petroleum gas, diesel, ethanol and unleaded gasoline.

“During 2012, we’ll see Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault and (GM) Holden offer low- or zero-emission models for sale in Australia, all primarily propelled by electricity,” he says.

“Carbon-dioxide emissions from new vehicles have reduced significantly without regulation, and the industry now looks forward to working constructively with the federal government in developing an achievable mandatory emission standard for 2015.”