New lease cars may be becoming greener, new research would appear to indicate.<\/p>\n
Data released by the European Environment Agency reveals the average carbon footprint created by a new passenger car sold in the EU last year was some 3.7 per cent lower than that seen in 2009.<\/p>\n
Such a fall represents the second-largest annual drop experienced since records began in 2000, with the typical vehicle in the eurozone now producing 140g of CO2 per km travelled.<\/p>\n
Under current progress, the agency claims that the goal of achieving a 130g CO2\/km rate will be met before the 2015 deadline.<\/p>\n
Climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard claims that the figures prove “that setting targets delivers results and stimulates the car industry to put greener cars on the market”.<\/p>\n
“These innovations also ensure that Europe’s car industry remains competitive in the changing global market,” she states.<\/p>\n
However, the decline remains some way off the 5.1 per cent fall recorded in 2009 – something that was partially attributed to the economic crisis and the introduction of a number of vehicle scrappage schemes.<\/p>\n
According to the European Commission, road transport alone accounts for around one-fifth of the EU’s total CO2 emissions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"