A study commissioned by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) demonstrates the complexity of the vehicle emissions debate and has highlighted the need for high quality 95 RON petrol, says Australia’s peak motor industry body.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, which represents Australia’s car manufacturers and distributors, has welcomed the AAA’s analysis by the Centre for International Economics which has flagged the increased costs associated with lowering CO2 levels in new cars, particularly the cost increase in petrol.
The Chief Executive of the FCAI, Tony Weber, said the Government’s own paper publicly released in June last year stated unequivocally how important a high-grade, low sulphur fuel was in achieving the advanced market vehicle emissions standard.
“The relationship between fuel quality and emissions is globally acknowledged,” Mr Weber said.
“The motor industry has consistently stated that advanced market pollutant standards – Euro 6 and beyond – will come at a cost to the consumer because the cleaner engines require premium grade, low sulphur petrol to operate most effectively.”
The industry has been working with the government’s Ministerial Forum on Vehicle Emissions to play its part in reducing both Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and other pollutants in line with the government’s 2030 Greenhouse Gas reduction targets.
But Mr Weber said that that the contribution of new vehicles to GHG needs to be placed in context
“While the current in-service fleet of passenger cars, SUVs and light commercials contribute around 10 per cent of Australia’s annual GHG emissions, new vehicle sales only impact less than 1 per cent per year,” he said.
“This is a complex discussion in which all the cards have to be placed on the table and careful assessments made, including what incentives are offered to consumers to transition to a vehicle with reduced emissions and lower fuel consumption, whether that is electric, fuel cell or hybrid.”