North West MEP acts to cut car costs

As fuels prices continue to rise, a North West Euro-MP's proposals for more energy efficient cars are gaining support in Brussels.

Chris Davies wants the amount of petrol or diesel used by new cars to be cut by 40% over the next 12 years.

His plans gained the support of the European Parliament last October and look set to become law by the end of the year.

The MEP is seeking to reduce CO2 emissions from cars from their present average of 165g CO2/km to just 95g by 2020.

"The amount of fuel used in cars directly relates to the carbon they release," he explains. "Cut the global warming emissions and you cut the cost of driving the cars."

Mr Davies will join the team of MEPs that will negotiate the final shape of the new law with EU governments in the autumn. He believes that even Germany, home to manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes, now accepts that the targets are not unrealistic.

He said: "The increase in the price of petrol and diesel has made motorists much more interested in driving more fuel-efficient cars. The manufacturers are now having to listen not only to environmentalists but also to their customers."

Controversially, the MEP is calling for a minimum of 20% of the space devoted to advertising new cars should be devoted to giving customers information about the vehicles' fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

"The manufacturers of the gas guzzling monsters hate this idea," he said. "The image of the new cars is everything to them and they fear this will be undermined if customers appreciate just how environmentally damaging these vehicles really are."

Some 13% of all Europe's carbon emissions stem from passenger cars. Absolute volumes of CO2 are continuing to rise as the number of new cars on the roads has exceeded the improvements being made in fuel economy.

Mr Davies said: "The technology exists to bring about significant improvements. We need to set ambitious targets but also to give the industry sufficient time to make the design changes at least possible cost."