Aussie fuel efficiency standards mooted

New cars sold in Australia could soon be forced to meet new environmental and fuel efficiency targets, according to details of a new proposal just released by the Turnbull government.

The US and Europe have stringent CO2 emissions regulations to which car makers must adhere, which in turn is fast-tracking development of downsized, turbocharged, electric and hybrid engines, so the impact of the new proposals, if passed into law, probably wouldn't affect what vehicles are bought or sold in this country.

What the new proposals would do is potentially increase running costs for motorists with petrol and diesel-powered cars.

Some of the measures floated by the government include using higher quality fuel and legislating to ensure car importers, from Ford and Holden to Audi and BMW, only sell low-emission vehicles.

The objective, says the government, is to reduce air pollution (chiefly carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide).

But not everyone's thrilled about the proposals.

The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) released a press statement on its website cautioning that the changes would have to be clearly explained.

"The AAA encourages the Government to credibly identify all of the costs and benefits associated with these proposed changes, as motorists deserve a clear explanation of how any fuel and car price increases will affect household budgets.

"AAA supports efforts to reduce vehicle emissions, however neither consumers, nor the environment, benefit from symbolic regulation that drives up costs for consumers, while delivering emissions abatement only in a laboratory."

The government proposals come hot on the heels of new Australian research that shows official fuel consumption figures attained in labs are nothing like real-world results. In one case, an unnamed new vehicle sold in Australia allegedly emitted four times the legal limit for the potentially deadly gas, carbon monoxide.