A new report commissioned by the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) reports that efforts to improve average fuel economy by 50 per cent for new cars by 2030 and for the entire fleet by 2050 is achievable with existing, cost effective technologies.
It does however note that in order to improve fuel economy, technical potential must be utilised entirely for that purpose and not support increases in performance.
The authors of the report state that since about two thirds of new cars are sold in the OECD, the 50 per cent target appears appropriate and achievable worldwide. Specifically, the average 2005 global new vehicle economy level of 8l/100km can be reduced to 4l/100km – the equivalent of increasing fuel economy from about 30mpg to 60mpg and reducing CO2 emissions from 186g/km to 93g/km.
It is suggested that in some countries it may be necessary to augment the incremental technology improvements with widespread use of electric vehicles to reach the targets.
According to the GFEI, the car fleet worldwide is predicted to treble by 2050 which could bring serious implications for the global effort to address climate change unless reducing transport emissions and improving fuel economy becomes an urgent priority.
As such, it suggests that governments should create conditions for industry to deliver the maximum from technological innovation; countries should launch national fuel economy initiatives; and manufacturers must set fuel economy as a top priority while being ambitious with their targets.
