CO2 levels on the rise as focus on NOx continues

According to figures from the latest Quarterly Leasing Survey by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) show that there has been a rise in CO2 emissions as there is a more predominant focus on NOx.

Average CO2 figures for newly registered BVRLA member lease cars remained stable at 111.7g/km in Q3-2017 almost unchanged from the previous quarter.

However, year-on-year comparisons show an upward trajectory with CO2 emissions up 0.9% in Q3-2017 compared to the same period in 2016 (110.7g/km).

Although overall CO2 emissions are gradually increasing, newly registered BVRLA member lease cars still have average emissions eight per cent lower than the overall UK new car market, which emit on average 121.3g/km, up by 0.7 per cent year-on-year and on the previous quarter.

The proportion of diesel cars in the BVRLA fleet remains relatively static at 74.1 per cent in Q3-2017, down marginally by 0.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

However, new registrations saw diesel cars fall by 4.7 per cent down to 63.4 per cent from 68.1 per cent last quarter.

Petrol cars represent 20.4 per cent of the total car fleet, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year and 2.5 per cent on last quarter, indicating that the shift away from diesel is predominantly moving towards petrol.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “We currently have a poorly designed tax environment that encourages people to make their own arrangements rather than choosing a company car. This is putting older, higher-polluting grey fleet vehicles on our roads.

“To this, we can add the demonising of diesels and continued uncertainty around air quality measures, which is nudging people towards petrol cars. The inevitable result is that we are seeing CO2 levels increasing.

“With the right tax regime, incentives and government communication, the fleet industry can have a huge impact on improving air quality across the country.

“BVRLA fleets are on average 8% cleaner than the national average and our members are ready to advise and provide individuals and businesses with the cleanest and most suitable cost-effective solution to best meet their needs.”