Electric cars and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Anna Zabeo talks to Sara Capetti, Sales Administrator at Subaru Italia S.p.A.
Electric cars, why and when? The goal: zero greenhouse gas emissions for the transport sector, by 2050. This seems a long way off, but the intermediate steps are already under way, with penalties for vehicle manufacturers in the case of emissions above maximum permitted values specified by EU regulations. To find out more about this topic, Anna Zabeo, Marketing & Communications Support Assistant at ENG-Automotive, interviewed Sara Capetti, an expert in the automotive sector and Sales Administrator at Subaru Italia S.p.A..
Sara, are manufacturers already moving towards a greener world?
“Yes, in the future the concept of sustainability will become increasingly important on the global scene, above all in the automotive sector. In fact, European regulations require manufacturers to reduce their cars’ CO2 emissions, inducing them to design greener vehicles. This is fundamental in combating climate change: the objective is to lessen the environmental impact of road transport in order to promote mobility with greater eco-compatibility.”
Why is it so important to convert the passenger car segment to electric power?
“Because 32% of CO2’s effect on global warming is due to transport, and 72% of this proportion is produced by road transport. The limited availability of fossil fuels, the growing demand for energy on a global scale, and environmental impact, call for greater care in the use of non-renewable resources. The objective is to identify the forms of technology that can reduce consumption of fossil fuels, limiting environmental impact and at the same time ensuring economic competitivity. At the present moment in time, the solutions available are the conversion to electric cars, accompanied by a growing attention to responsible practices in manufacturing processes on the part of the automotive sector, with particular regard to stakeholders and the overall community. Environmental themes are becoming an essential factor for all automotive manufacturers, with a constant commitment to organizing all the phases of a vehicle’s life: design, manufacture and use, right through to the second life of car batteries once they have reached the end of their useful duration.”
What are the targets that the European Union has introduced to meet these sustainable development goals?
“European regulations require manufacturers to reduce their cars’ CO2 emissions, following the introduction of the EU law on climate, adopted on 28 June 2021. The objective is climate neutrality – in other words, reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions for EU countries, by investing in green technology and protecting the environment – before 2050, a binding commitment.
The law also specifies an intermediate objective, namely reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The greatest leap will have to be attained in the five years after that: in fact, by 2035, only zero-emission vehicles can be sold.”
What are the penalties that manufacturers will have to pay?
“From 2020 to 2024, EU regulation 2019/631 confirms the following objectives for CO2 emissions for the EU’s entire fleet of vehicles: cars less than 95g CO2 per km; light commercial vehicles (vans) less than 147g CO2 per km. These target levels refer to the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) that came into force in January 2021. If the average CO2 emissions of a manufacturer’s fleet are greater than the specific emission objectives in a year, the manufacturer will have to pay an EEP penalty (Excess Emission Premium) of €95 per every g/km in excess of the goals for each of the vehicles licensed in that year.”
Sara Capetti has been working in the automotive sector for several years, acquiring expert knowledge both of commercial vehicles and cars, and developing specific expertise in the technological innovations that are rapidly changing manufacturers’ approach to their products. Her passion for the natural environment gives her considerable interest in the sustainable development goals for road transport vehicles.
