Position paper on CO2 standards for cars and vans
The Platform for Electromobility supports the overall greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 55% by 2030 and the climate neutrality objective by 2050. Reducing – and ultimately eliminating – emissions from cars, vans and trucks will be key to achieving these objectives.
The Platform for Electromobility would like to emphasise that the EU CO2 standards regulation delivers genuine benefits for transport, setting clear signals to both car makers and consumers on the required pace for the transition to zero-emission mobility. This regulation is the most effective way to do so, when compared to the extension of the ETS system to road transport.
The future cars and vans CO2 legislation will increase the offer and promote the market uptake of zero-emission vehicles. With an increased market, zero-emissions vehicles will also become more affordable with a continuously reduced total cost of ownership and more choice for consumers and will also help tackle air quality and noise issues, bringing an overall benefit to society.
For Europe to become carbon neutral by 2050, road transport needs to be entirely decarbonised by this date. Considering the average retirement age of petrol and diesel vehicles in Europe (around 15 years), the Platform for Electromobility believes that an EU-wide phase-out date for sales of new pure internal combustion engine passenger cars and vans no later than 2035 is necessary to achieve this objective with a clear emissions reductions trajectory. After 2035 looking at the overall life cycle carbon footprint of vehicles could be a relevant factor to consider.
Setting binding annual CO2 targets would be optimal from a climate perspective and would ensure a continuous CO2 emissions reduction trajectory. Such targets should follow a long-term emission reduction trajectory to ensure sufficient visibility for industry (ensuring annual targets are set sufficiently in advance, and minimum of 5 years). The current design of the car and vans CO2 regulation targets – whereby targets kick-in in five years intervals with no emission reductions required in between – is suboptimal from a climate perspective and means CO2 emissions actually increase in between, as was seen between 2016 and 2019 from new car sales.
The revised regulation should set significantly higher targets for CO2 emissions from 2030 and adding a binding interim target in 2027 of at least 37,5% CO2 emissions reduction (a date consistent with the technology reset required by the Euro 7 emission standard) to secure a more linear CO2 emission target trajectory and ensure new vehicles can fairly contribute to the higher overall GHG reduction target for 2030.
In addition to the CO2 targets, a mechanism incentivising zero-and low-emissions vehicles (ZLEV) should be maintained in the period up to 2030. Only zero-emissions vehicles should be eligible for the incentive system, as well as vehicles with emissions below a threshold lower than 40 g CO2/km. Ultimately, the ZLEV benchmark/mandate level should be adapted from 2030 onwards, and only zero-emission vehicles should be eligible for any incentive system. The Platform for Electromobility considers that another incentive type could be envisaged – based on an accurate impact assessment and analysis – in the form of a bonus-malus for the period up to 2030 with a realistic threshold. After 2030, the bonus would be removed to be replaced by a unique malus.
In addition, regarding specificities of vans (professional purposes, goods & persons transport) it should be considered to differentiate between the target levels for cars and vans until 2035.
The Platform is opposed to any mechanism that would consider the contribution of renewable and low carbon fuels in the compliance assessment for each manufacturer. Policies focused on decarbonising fuels and those focused on reducing emissions from cars and vans must remain in separate legal instruments.
We would like to underline that new skills and qualifications for workers in the automotive value chain will be needed. Excess emission premiums, which are paid by OEMs whose average specific emissions of CO2 exceeded their specific targets and whose amounts are considered as a revenue for the general budget of the EU, should be allocated to a new or existing fund or relevant programme with the objective of ensuring a just transition towards a climate-neutral economy, in particular to support re-skilling, up-skilling and other skills training and reallocation of workers in the automotive sector and ecosystem.
Data collected from fuel consumption meters (FCMs) – fitted as standard on all new cars from 2021 onwards – should be used for consumer information and vehicle labelling purposes, either via a review of the car labelling directive, or via direct amendments to the cars CO2 regulation, and from 2025 onwards be used for compliance with CO2 targets.
The Platform supports removing the target mass adjustment mechanism. Removing the target mass-adjustment mechanism has many benefits: it removes a structural weakening of the regulation; ensures that all carmakers have the same target therefore pushing the larger and more polluting segments to electrify more rapidly, in line with their heavier climate impact; and it simplifies the regulation.
The decarbonisation of the transport sector needs a holistic approach. The planned revision of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive (AFID) needs to support the harmonised roll-out of a high-quality charging infrastructure for BEVs. It should be turned into a regulation for road transport infrastructure and set minimum mandatory targets per Member States for the deployment of publicly accessible charging points with a minimum quality service requirement that are accessible for every consumer.
The Platform for Electromobility urges the Commission to seize the unique opportunity of the Fit for 55 package and of the Green Recovery Fund to achieve the EU Green Deal’s goal to fully decarbonise road transport by 2050 and make electromobility a lifelong reality.
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Platform’s proposals to boost zero-emission vehicles in corporate and urban fleets
With the European Union agreement on -55% greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030, all economic sectors will have to pull their weight towards this goal. Unfortunately, the transport sector has a poor decarbonization track-record with emissions steadily growing since 1990.
Looking at all transport modes, road transport is still the largest emitter (71%) and will remain so in the near future[1]. Recently adopted CO2 emission performance standards, investment in charging infrastructure, etc. will eventually drive down emissions, but new initiatives aimed at “quick wins” are needed to fast-track decarbonization.
These initiatives should be based on the idea that when fighting against climate change and local pollution, not all vehicles are equal. Fleet vehicles (i.e. corporate fleets) drive on average 2.25 times[2] more than private cars. Public fleets, such as urban buses which account for 8%[3] (per passenger per km) of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by the transport sector, are also big players. Last but not least, as fleet vehicles are often parked in depots and large parking lots, their batteries could be used to optimise the RES integration and the use of smart charging could provide benefits to local utilities and to the whole power system[4].
Against that background, the Platform for electromobility welcomes the European Commission’s ambition to electrify public and corporate fleets recently introduced in the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy.
In this paper, we share our insight and expertise to make this a reality. We first recommend ensuring an ambitious implementation of the Clean Vehicle Directive (CVD) for public fleets in all Member States (MS). Second, new legislation dedicated to the electrification of corporate fleets should be envisaged.
Implementing the Clean Vehicle Directive
While at its adoption in 2019, we expressed our enthusiasm that the CVD would pave the way for a broad deployment of clean vehicles across Europe – electric buses in particular – it seems likely that few MS will transpose the directive in time.
As of April 2021, only France has implemented the directive, and only a few more MS have started the transposition process which is due to be completed by 2nd August 2021. There is a risk that an unequal transposition of the directive will lead to fragmentated and non-harmonized access to clean transportation and its benefits for citizens between MS.
Recent bus registration figures also show that while the sales of electric buses are progressing, most countries are still nowhere near the CVD targets [6]. Therefore, we call the legislators to push for a better and faster implementation of the CVD in most MS. National governments should make the best use of available funds, including national and European recovery plans, to achieve the targets of the directive.
Electrification of public fleets covered by the CVD is only one step on the road to a 90% cut in transport emissions by 2050. Electrifying corporate fleets[7] constitute another powerful leverage towards the decarbonation of transportation in Europe.
Leveraging corporate fleets to curb emissions
Corporate cars represent millions of high-mileage vehicles circulating in Europe with a high turnover. They now also represent the main part of the car market in Western Europe. According to a recent Deloitte[8] report, in 2010 the private and corporate market segments were almost equally large in Western Europe (respectively 7.3 million vs. 7.2 million car registrations). In 2016, the balance had already tilted in favour of corporate cars (58%), and by 2021, Deloitte forecasts a share of new car registrations of 37% for the private and 63% for the corporate channel. In countries not covered by the study like Poland, corporate cars share in a new passenger car market is even larger, reaching 75% in 2020[9].
Corporate cars quickly become private cars via the second-hand market after an average ownership of 36 to 48 months. Most Europeans indeed purchase private cars after they used corporate functions[10]. The electrification of corporate fleets is therefore key to also electrify the whole stock (owned by individuals) with a reasonable time gap.
Corporate fleets represent 20% of the total vehicle park in Europe, 40% of total driven kilometers but is responsible for half of total emissions from road transport. Starting with corporate fleets is the quickest way to reach emission cuts.[11]
Additionally, corporate cars are highly visible in our cities. By leading by example and supplying the second-hand market, electrified corporate vehicles will increase acceptability and accessibility of electric cars for European households. The electrification of this market therefore is not only a ‘low hanging fruit’, it has significant indirect impacts on other markets. As such, it is a major element for the electric vehicles (EVs) market to reach a critical mass.
Additionally, corporate cars are highly visible in our cities. By leading by example and supplying the second-hand market, electrified corporate vehicles will increase acceptability and accessibility of electric cars for European households. The electrification of this market therefore is not only a ‘low hanging fruit’, it has significant indirect impacts on other markets. As such, it is a major element for the electric vehicles (EVs) market to reach a critical mass.
Yet, the electrification potential of corporate vehicles remains largely untapped, due to a lack of clear rules and incentives. Indeed, along with main files such the Eurovignette Directive currently under negotiation, and which would be an important incentive for greening fleets, a whole patchwork of initiatives is included in existing and upcoming legislations. We remind that a successful electrification of corporate fleet shall be linked with a strong roll-out of public and private of charging infrastructures. Annex 1 below outlines our positions on these legislative files and why they will suffice to yield the way to a full decarbonisation of corporate fleets.
With no legislative instrument at hand today, the European policy lacks teeth when it comes to electrification of corporate fleets. We invite policy makers to require more and more fleets such as company cars, taxis, leasing and renting companies and delivery vehicles to electrify, and support companies towards this goal.
To do so, we call for the establishment of a new single regulation dedicated to the electrification of corporate fleets.
Call for a new proposal on the electrification of corporate fleets
A new legislation on the electrification of corporate fleets would set a clear path and objective. This new legislation should include the following provisions:
For a start, such a legislation should equally apply across the European internal market. Therefore, we believe a regulation would be the most suitable legislative instrument to accelerate fleet electrification. The regulation would harmonize the European market by preventing risks of increased gaps between MS during the implementation. This is particularly important for internal market cohesion and regulatory clarity for businesses owning fleet across the EU. A regulation would have the final benefit of having a direct effect.
A realistic yet ambitious mandate should be put on companies to decarbonise their vehicle fleets in accordance with the European Green Deal’s objectives. Fleet electrification is a journey that requires following a roadmap and trials before scaling up in largest companies. Considering the timing of application of the regulation and the ability of companies that recently purchased vehicles or have larger fleets to react a stepwise approach is with interim targets therefore required.
| We recommend setting a gradual approach to progressively but eventually reach the objective of 100% of new vehicle purchase in corporate fleets to be electrified by 2030. |
To avoid imposing a heavy burden on the smallest companies, the regulation should apply to fleets above a certain size. Thresholds should be based on a robust methodology to consider the different segments, industries and MS characteristics while keeping in mind the lower the threshold, the higher the incentives should be for smaller fleets. Next to the electrification of the corporate fleets, companies should consider multimodal packages where a Zero-emission vehicle is combined with other sustainable transport solutions.
The Regulation’s provisions should differentiate between fleets in their capacity to make the change based on their usual turnover and nature of the transport they perform. Some fleets should face stricter and faster pace to electrification while other could be given more time to electrify. For example, new taxis and private hire vehicles (PHV) committed to drive fully electric vehicles should be issued licences in priority over ICE drivers while fleets in specific industries with technological obstacles (e.g. logging/lumbering industry) may be given derogations.
Along with mandatory targets and compliance mechanisms, incentives for fleet owners will also be needed at European and national levels to accompany the shift. Inspiration for positive incentives should be drawn from lessons learnt from well-designed benefit in kind systems for corporate cars across MS. The Platform for electromobility will soon propose a document outlining such best practices.
[1]https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/transport-emissions-of-greenhouse-gases-7/assessment
[2]https://www.transportenvironment.org/sites/te/files/publications/2020_10_Dataforce_company_car_report.pdf
[3] EU Commission Expert Group on Clean Bus Deployment; D2 Procurement and Operations.
[4] Flagship 1 – Boosting the uptake of zero-emission vehicles, renewable & low-carbon fuels and related infrastructure
[6] https://www.acea.be/uploads/press_releases_files/ACEA_buses_by_fuel_type_full-year_2020.pdf
[7] In this paper, we include into corporate fleets all “Vehicle owned or leased by a private a company, and used for business purposes.”
[8] https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/cz/Documents/consumer-and-industrial/cz-fleet-management-in-europe.pdf.
[10] DG Climate Action, European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/transport/vehicles/docs/2nd_hand_cars_en.pdf
[11] “Accelerating fleet electrification in Europe”, Eurelectric, 2021 (www.evision.eurelectric.org)
[12] Infographic on assessing the feasibility (https://evision.eurelectric.org/infographics/) – with examples of several fleet use-cases / Eurelectric