The B2B platform for full-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Policy News

Incoming EU climate policy chief will act on transport emissions

EU Commissioner Designate for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard

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• Revising outdated EU legislation on CO₂ emissions from passenger cars: Hedegaard upheld that, considering the speed at which technology is moving, current legislation on CO₂ emissions from passenger cars - although only recently conceded - needs to be revised.

Indeed, legislation passed just over a year ago handed out several concessions to carmakers in terms of extended deadlines and low penalty levels in case of non-compliance with the CO₂ reduction targets set out. And although current legislation foresees an ambitious 95 g/km by 2020 target, the long-term target is put at risk by the watered-down mid-term goals. A revision of the weak legislation on car CO₂ emissions could encourage an early switch to full-electric and hybrid cars, seen by many as the only long-term solution to the climate change challenge.

• Cutting CO₂ emissions from lorries: The incoming Climate Commissioner also said at the hearing that she would introduce legislation on cutting CO₂ emissions from lorries. "We still have not done what the EU should do on lorries. There will come an initiative on lorries, that will be one of the first things."