Sylvie Willis
The average fuel consumption of light-duty vehicles in the European Union in 2019 was 6.0 litres of gasoline equivalent per 100 kilometres (Lge/100 km), down from 7.0 Lge/ 100 km in 2005. This represents a 1% annual reduction in fuel consumption between 2005 and 2019. However, the specific consumption of new cars increased by 2.5% per year on average from 2016 to 2019, then decreased sharply by 4.2% per year from 2019 to 2021, resulting in a stable specific consumption over 2016-2022 at the EU level. In 2021, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the EU member states agreed on mandatory CO2 standards for new vehicles for 2025 and 2030, requiring a 37.5% reduction in CO2 emissions from new cars by 2030. To comply with these standards, manufacturers have adopted various strategies, such as improving fuel efficiency and transitioning to electric vehicles.
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What You'll Learn
Fuel economy in the European Union
However, there has been a noted discrepancy between official fuel economy measurements and real-world driving fuel consumption. In 2017, the gap between tested New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) fuel economy values and actual fuel consumption in new passenger cars was about 39%. This discrepancy has been addressed through the adoption of the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle and Test Procedure in 2017, which aims to better reflect real-world driving conditions.
To improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, the EU has implemented various measures. From 2021 onwards, new vehicles in the EU must be equipped with on-board fuel consumption monitoring devices, providing transparent data on fuel consumption and emissions. Additionally, manufacturers must report annual average fuel consumption to regulatory agencies. The EU has also set mandatory CO2 standards for new vehicles, targeting a 37.5% reduction in emissions between 2021 and 2030.
The specific consumption of new cars in the EU has fluctuated over the years. Between 2007 and 2016, there was a strong reduction in specific consumption, attributed to EU regulations, national fiscal incentives, and rising fuel prices. However, from 2016 to 2019, specific consumption increased by 2.5% per year, followed by a sharp decrease of 4.2% per year from 2019 to 2021. This decrease can be attributed to a larger share of more fuel-efficient vehicles in new car sales.
Overall, the EU's efforts to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions have led to a mix of successes and challenges. While there have been improvements in fuel efficiency and reductions in official fuel consumption values, the real-world performance of vehicles has revealed discrepancies. Addressing these gaps and continuing to implement effective regulations and incentives will be crucial for the EU to achieve its emissions reduction targets and improve fuel economy.
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Real-world fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption of light-duty vehicles (LDVs) in the European Union in 2019 was 6.0 litres of gasoline equivalent per 100 kilometres (Lge/100 km). This was a reduction from 7.0 Lge/100 km in 2005, representing a 1% annual reduction in fuel consumption between 2005 and 2019. The sales-weighted average rated CO2 emission of new LDVs sold in the EU dropped by 11% between 2019 and 2020.
However, it's important to note that there is a significant gap between tested fuel economy values and real-world driving fuel consumption. In 2001, an analysis revealed an 8% gap between the two. This gap widened to about 39% in 2017. This discrepancy led to the adoption of the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle and Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Procedure in 2017, which aimed to better reflect real-world driving conditions.
To address this issue further, new vehicles in the EU have been required, since 2021, to be sold with an on-board fuel consumption metre. Additionally, manufacturers must report annual average fuel consumption to regulatory agencies, with the first reports submitted in 2022. This data is collected through approved on-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) devices, which record the vehicle's fuel or energy consumption and total distance driven.
The latest data, recorded in 2022 and reported in 2023, showed that the real-world CO2 emissions and fuel consumption from diesel and petrol cars were, on average, around 20% higher than the official values from the standardised WLTP type-approval test used for regulatory purposes. This confirmation was in line with the European Commission's expectations. For cars first registered in 2021, the average gap observed between real-world and official type-approval average CO2 emissions and fuel consumption was 19.8% for petrol cars and 18.2% for diesel cars. For cars registered in 2022, the gap increased slightly to 21.1% for petrol cars and decreased to 17.1% for diesel cars.
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Average fuel consumption of LDVs
The average fuel consumption of light-duty vehicles (LDVs) in the European Union in 2019 was 6.0 litres of gasoline equivalent per 100 kilometres (Lge/100 km), down from 7.0 Lge/100 km in 2005. This represents a 1% annual reduction in fuel consumption between 2005 and 2019. However, between 2017 and 2019, fuel consumption increased on average by 2.3% per year. This increase in fuel consumption may be attributed to the growing sales of sports utility vehicles (SUVs), which have a higher fuel consumption than other vehicle segments. In 2019, the sales share of SUVs in the EU market was 36%, up from 7% in 2005.
In recent years, the European Union has implemented several measures to improve fuel economy and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from LDVs. In 2017, the EU adopted the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle and Test Procedure to address the growing gap between tested and real-world fuel consumption. From 2021 onwards, new vehicles in the EU are required to be equipped with on-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) devices, providing more accurate data on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
In addition to EU-wide regulations, individual countries have also introduced initiatives to improve fuel economy. For example, France implemented a "feebate" scheme called Bonus-malus, which imposes a fee on the purchase of vehicles with high CO2 emissions and provides subsidies for the purchase of vehicles with low emissions. This scheme, combined with mandatory consumer labels displaying fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and efficiency class, aims to encourage the purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Despite these efforts, there is still a gap between real-world fuel consumption and tested values. Data collected in 2022 for cars registered in the EU in 2021 and 2022 revealed that real-world CO2 emissions and fuel consumption from diesel and petrol cars were, on average, 20% higher than the official standardised test values. This discrepancy highlights the need for more accurate testing procedures and further initiatives to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions from LDVs in Europe.
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CO2 emission standards
The EU has implemented a range of measures to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and vans, which are responsible for around 16% and 3% of total EU emissions of carbon dioxide, respectively. These include:
Regulations and Standards
- Regulation (EU) 2019/631, which sets CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and vans. This regulation was amended in 2023 to strengthen the standards and bring them in line with the EU's climate neutrality goals.
- The Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle and Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Procedure, adopted in 2017, aimed at better reflecting real-world driving conditions.
- On-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) devices are now mandatory for new cars and vans running on liquid fuels before entering the EU market. These devices record fuel consumption and distance travelled, with data collected by manufacturers and regulatory agencies.
Targets and Incentives
- A 100% emission reduction target for both cars and vans from 2035 onwards, with interim targets for manufacturers from 2021-2025.
- A super-credit multiplier for vehicles with rated emissions below 50 g CO2/km.
- Incentives for zero- and low-emission vehicles, such as electric vehicles, although these are set to end in 2030.
Manufacturer Compliance
- Annual reporting of average fuel consumption by manufacturers to regulatory agencies, with the first reports published in 2024.
- Manufacturer targets for 2021-2024 are calculated based on average mass and new vehicle registrations, with specific values outlined in Commission Implementing Decisions.
These measures have contributed to a decrease in average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars registered in Europe, with a 27% reduction between 2019 and 2022. However, it is worth noting that there is still a gap between real-world driving fuel consumption and tested values, with real-world CO2 emissions and fuel consumption from diesel and petrol cars being higher than indicated by standardised tests.
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Fuel efficiency
However, it's important to note that the testing procedures and standards used to measure fuel efficiency differ between Europe and the US, which can also contribute to the perceived differences in fuel efficiency. The New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test used in Europe is shorter and slower than the EPA's test procedure in the US. For example, the European "Urban" test is only 13 minutes long, while the EPA's city test is 31 minutes long. The EPA's test also includes higher speeds and additional factors such as 'High Speed', 'Air Conditioning', and 'Cold Temperature' tests, which are designed to reflect real-world driving conditions more accurately.
Despite these differences in testing procedures, there is still a notable gap between the tested fuel economy values and real-world driving fuel consumption in Europe. In 2017, the gap between NEDC fuel economy values and real-world fuel consumption was about 39%. In response to this growing discrepancy, the EU adopted the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle and Test Procedure in 2017, which aims to better reflect real-world driving conditions. From 2021, new vehicles in the EU are required to be equipped with on-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) devices, providing more accurate data on fuel consumption and distance travelled.
Overall, the fuel efficiency of cars in Europe has improved over time due to various factors. Between 2000 and 2007, the specific consumption of new cars in the EU decreased by 1.5% annually, and from 2007 to 2016, this reduction strengthened to 3.1% per year. However, since 2016, the trend has changed, with an average increase of 2.5% per year from 2016 to 2019. This shift can be attributed to the growing sales share of SUVs and gasoline cars, which typically have higher fuel consumption. Nonetheless, in 2019, the average fuel consumption of light-duty vehicles in the EU was 6.0 litres of gasoline equivalent per 100 kilometres (Lge/100 km), down from 7.0 Lge/100 km in 2005, representing a 1% annual reduction.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of car fuel consumed in Europe is difficult to determine as there are many variables at play, such as the type of vehicle, fuel type, and driving conditions. However, we can look at the fuel economy of vehicles, which is the distance travelled per unit volume of fuel used. This is often expressed as litres per 100 kilometres (L/100 km) or miles per gallon (MPG). The average fuel consumption of light-duty vehicles in the European Union in 2019 was 6.0 L/100 km, down from 7.0 L/100 km in 2005.
Several factors influence fuel consumption in Europe. Firstly, the type of vehicle plays a significant role. For example, SUVs generally have higher fuel consumption than smaller cars. Additionally, the specific fuel type, such as gasoline or diesel, impacts consumption, with diesel engines typically achieving greater fuel efficiency than petrol engines.
The average fuel economy for all vehicles in Europe is higher than in the United States due to higher fuel costs, influencing consumer behaviour and vehicle efficiency. European-built cars are generally more fuel-efficient than US vehicles, with a higher proportion of diesel and more efficient gasoline vehicles.
Europe has implemented various measures to reduce fuel consumption and improve vehicle efficiency. These include adopting stricter CO2 emission standards for new vehicles, introducing on-board fuel consumption monitoring devices, providing incentives for zero- and low-emission vehicles, and improving fuel economy labelling and standards.
There has historically been a discrepancy between official fuel consumption figures and real-world fuel use. This gap widened over time but appears to have stabilised around 39%. Since 2021, new vehicles in the EU have been required to have on-board fuel consumption meters to provide more accurate data, and manufacturers must disclose real-world fuel consumption values.
