ACF uses GCC as platform to demand mandatory fuel efficiency standards

The Australian Conservation Foundation has demanded that the Federal Government impose mandatory European-level fuel efficiency standards on all new cars sold in Australia has met with no shortage of displeasure from the local industry.

Speaking at the Global Green Challenge from the wheel of a MINI D, described in a press release that reads like a product endorsement as "[sharing] the title of Australia's most fuel efficient car available for sale with Toyota Prius", ACF spokesperson Gail Broadbent added that the standards should be subject to regular review.

"The Australian vehicle industry failed to meet non-binding voluntary efficiency targets in 1983, 1987 and 2000 and looks set not to fulfil the voluntary agreement for new cars sold in Australia to achieve an average fuel efficiency of 6.8L/100km by 2010," she said.

"New cars sold in Europe are already on average 40 per cent  more efficient than new cars sold in Australia -- and standards in the EU are about to get tougher.

Australian cars should meet at least the European standard and should meet mandatory targets for alternative fuels on a greenhouse weighted basis, without favouring particular technologies or fuels."

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries spokesman James Goodwin strongly rejects the ACF claims that the local industry has failed to meet its targets. 

"We have a positive track record of reducing emissions and we've achieved our current target of 222 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre more than a year ahead of schedule," he told Carsales.

Goodwin says part of the problem lies with the way the ACF wants to benchmark environmental performance. "They need to get up to speed and stop using this outdated language. 

The industry and the government have been talking in CO2 emissions per kilometre for many years because that's the fairest way of comparing different fuel types -- diesel, LPG and petrol."

"We're working with governments through COAG to come up with a new, ambitious target. And the study should be consistent with the principles of the government's broader Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme."

"It's important to remember that Australia is not Europe and that the automotive industry is a global one.

"Australian drivers cover much greater distance, often under more demanding conditions, than in drivers other countries -- and consumer preferences will reflect that. 

"We're part of an international industry and more than 80 per cent of vehicles sold in Australia are fully imported."

Ford spokesperson Sinead McAlary took issue with the ACF for its endorsement of the MINI D and Prius as Australia's most fuel efficient cars.

"Ms Broadbent's got her facts wrong -- she's not driving Australia's most fuel efficient car. At 3.7L/100km, the Fiesta ECOnetic is not only more fuel efficient than the Mini D -- it also emits less CO2.

At 98g it is only the second car -- the only non-hybrid -- in Australia to go under the 100g mark.

"And yes, we've carbon-offset -- not just the competing cars but all the support vehicles as well."

Of course, says Broadbent, using cars less is always the best option.

"But when there's no alternative to driving, ACF encourages the use of sustainable vehicles and offsetting emissions."

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