The European Union told automakers to do more to meet stringent emission targets after a new report showed carbon dioxide pollution from cars increased. Average emissions of new passenger cars registered in the EU and Iceland in 2018 rose to 120.8 grams of carbon dioxide a kilometer, up 2 grams from the previous year. That’s more than a quarter higher than the fleet-wide target of 95 gram taking effect from this year. “Manufacturers will have to improve the fuel efficiency of their fleet and accelerate the deployment of zero- and low-emission vehicles,” the European Commission said in a statement on Wednesday.
It was also affected by changing consumer preferences, with buyers leaning toward larger and heavier sport-utility vehicles powered by petrol. Their market share rose to 35% in 2018 from 29%. “New registrations of zero- and low- emission cars increased in 2018 but represented only around 2% of new car registrations, compared to 1.5% in 2017,” the commission said. Some 150,000 battery vehicles and 150,000 plug-in hybrid cars are on the road. The average CO2 emissions of new vans were at 157.9 grams, increasing for the first time year-on-year.