CO2 and fuel efficiency labelling for new passenger cars

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.5 / Subcat-No.5.4-2

5. Efficiency standards & Flanking measures

5.4 Flanking measures: promotion, information, dialogue

CO2 and fuel efficiency labelling for new passenger cars

Information plays a key role in the operation of market forces; whereas the provision of accurate, relevant and comparable information on the specific fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of passenger cars may influence consumer choice in favour of those cars which use less fuel and thereby emit less CO2, thereby encouraging manufacturers to take steps to reduce the fuel consumption of the cars that they manufacture [1]. The car labelling was introduced by the Directive 1999/94/EC.

Car labelling in combination with "Green motor tax" in Denmark [5, p.53]; car labelling based on the fuel efficiency in the Netherlands [5, p.54]

- to ensure that information relating to the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of new passenger cars is made available to consumers [1]
- to influence the purchasing behavior such that fuel efficient cars are purchased preferably

Lower transport costs may lead to a higher trip frequency.

Increase of energy efficient and CO2 saving cars [5, p. 53]

[1] DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL. http://eurlex.
europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31999L0094:EN:pdf
[2] Schade W. et. al. (2009): ADAM 2-degree scenario for Europe – policies and impacts. Deliverable D-M1.3 of ADAM. Project co-funded by European Commission 6th RTD Programme. Karlsruhe, Germany.
[3] ADAC (2005): Study on the effectiveness of Directive 1999/94/EC relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars. Project on behalf of DG Environment. Munich, Germany.
[4] E.V.A. -Energieverwertungsagentur (1999): Energy Efficiency of Passenger Cars. Labelling and its Impacts on Fuel Efficiency and CO2-Reduction, Study for the Directorate General for Energy /DGXVII) of the Commission of the European Communities, Contract No. SAVE-XVII/4.1031/Z/96-005, Wien, Austria.
[5] Andrea Gärtner (2005): Study on the effectiveness of Directive 1999/94/EC relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars.
http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehicles/labelling/docs/final_report_en.pdf
[6] Wilfried Raimund (2005): Energy Efficiency of Passenger Cars: Labelling and its Impacts on Fuel Efficiency and CO2-Reduction. Austrian Energy Agency. http://www.eceee.org/conference_proceedings/eceee/1999/Panel_5/p5_5/paper
[7] Entwurf Novellierung der Pkw- Energieverbrauchs- Kennzeichnungsordnung. Stellungnahme des VDA.
[d] Iten R., Hammer, S., Sammer, K., Wüstenhagen, R. (2005): Evaluation energieEtikette - Massnahmen zur Absenkung des Flottenverbrauchs, Bericht im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Energie, Bern/Zürich/St. Gallen.