Akhir 26, 1432 H/March 31, 2011, SPA -- European Union transport ministers signed off Thursday on new carbon-dioxide (CO2) emission limits for vans, despite ferocious lobbying by the car industry against the measures, dpa reported. The new law forces all van makers to ensure that their vehicles emit less than 175 grams of CO2 per kilometre (g/km) by 2017, and reduce it to 147 g/km by 2020. Stricter limits are already in force for passenger cars. The law was approved last month by the European Parliament. The targets agreed by EU states and the parliament are less ambitious than the 135g/km for 2020 that the EU's executive, the European Commission, had proposed in 2009. Last month green group Transport and Environment denounced the compromise as shortsighted, arguing that businesses, and not just the environment, would have benefited from less polluting vans. "Because CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency are directly linked, weaker emissions standards mean vans will use more fuel. Fuel is a major cost to small businesses who depend on vans to run their operations," it said. The legislation is due to kick in gradually. In 2014, 70 per cent of vans sold in the EU will have to respect the 175g/km target, rising to 75 per cent in 2015 and 80 per cent in 2016. Manufacturers failing to meet the targets will be expected to pay up to 95 euros (135 dollars) per offending van.
