Thanks to major technological advancements, both emissions of CO2 and pollutants from cars have been significantly reduced, with that reducing the overall impact of road transport on the environment.
Thanks to engine improvements and improved management of CO2 and pollutants, emissions on the road were significantly cut while fuel efficiency of vehicles still improved. This is despite the fact that both initiatives require conflicting measures.
According to tests of on-road emissions conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Euro 6 vehicles emit at least 40% less nitrogen oxide (NOX) than Euro 3 vehicles. Furthermore, the automotive industry has brought particle emissions down to near zero levels. In short, on both for CO2 and pollutant emissions, significant reductions have been made.
The challenge in reducing CO2 and pollutants at the same time resides in the fact that they require conflicting measures: an attempt to decrease CO2 causes an increase of pollutant emissions.
- A car engine running at high temperature tends to emit less CO2 but more NOx.
- A lower engine temperature will result in more CO2 but less NOx.
Despite the fact that both initiatives require conflicting measures, manufacturers have still managed to significantly cut both pollutant and CO2 emissions as a result of significant investments in technology.
Car emissions across Europe have been drastically reduced. Particle emissions have even been cut to near zero levels.
The challenge of reducing both pollutant and CO2 emissions at the same time still remains. However, despite the fact that both initiatives require conflicting measures, manufacturers have still managed to significantly cut both pollutant and CO2 emissions as a result of significant investments in technology.