7 March 2007

Media Release

Emissions standards should drive council climate friendly car parking perks

Auckland City Council's move to provide parking privileges for climate friendly cars is a good idea and is welcomed by business leaders.

In order to make this policy popular and more effective, it needs a reliable national database with information on fuel efficiency and emissions benefits, according to the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Auckland City has had to use engine size and technology as a proxy in creating the criteria for setting aside parking bays in one of its downtown car parks for hybrids and small cars with engines of up to 1.3 litres.

"If we had a national database on the fuel and emissions efficiency of all vehicles, council's criteria could be more precise," says Business Council Chief Executive Peter Neilson. "Cars could then be given stickers when they get their warrants of fitness and be clearly identified for parking and other privileges. We'd also like to see them get use of bus lanes."

The focus should be on encouraging the use of fuel efficient, low emission vehicles.

For example, some larger luxury vehicles use less fuel and produce fewer emissions than small cars and hybrids.

The latest 2.7 litre V6 diesel powered XJ Jaguar uses less than 5.6 litres of diesel per 100 km. There are more than 29 other climate friendly cars available on the market, including 2 litre BMW and Audi diesels.

"It's not about engine size. It's about meeting the latest Euro IV emissions standards. The country has hundreds of thousands of small cars which are neither fuel efficient nor low emission.

"What is needed is an independent, Government-provided, database providing information on a vehicles' fuel and emissions efficiency," Mr Neilson says. The Government's www.fuelsaver.govt.nz site currently focuses on fuel efficiency, though it is understood work is underway to expand emissions information.
The Business Council has put a proposal, resulting from a research project involving 16 organisations, including motor companies, to Government advising it to make cash grants of up to $3000 to buyers of newly registered fuel efficient – low emission vehicles. Buyers of gas guzzlers, using 14 litres or more per 100 kilometres would pay $2000 extra. The proposed policy has 62% voter support.
The policy will add about another 86,000 fuel efficient, low emission cars to the fleet each year. It will result in a substantial part of the fleet becoming climate friendly in five years – and the benefits will flow through for the 13 to 20 year life of each vehicle.

The Business Council – whose 53 members' more than $40 billion in annual sales equate to 28% of the gross domestic product – also wants emission standards raised to the latest European standards on all vehicles, including imports.

"We can make a quick, relatively easy and painless tackle on transport emissions – the second highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand," Mr Neilson says. "We can cut people's petrol bills by up to half – and improve air quality. Already 400 people are dying prematurely each year from diseases caused by fuel particles, and treating people suffering from illnesses caused by vehicle emissions is costing $400 million a year. It makes sense to go for a climate friendly fleet that also improves our health. And if councils nationwide show initiative like Auckland, we'll make even faster progress."

ENDS

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