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The Road Vehicle Carbon Dioxide Emission Performance Standards (Cars and Vans) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2021
Jurisdiction: UK
Commencement: 26th November 2021
Amends:
- UK Retained: Regulation (EU) 2019/631 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles
Mini Summary
sets CO2 emissions performance requirements for manufacturers of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, and premiums to be paid if they are exceeded.
CO2 emissions performance requirements are set by the European Commission (EC) for new passenger cars* and new light commercial vehicles* in order to help achieve the European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and the objectives of the Paris agreement (a global action plan to limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels).
*New passenger cars are Category M1 vehicles which are registered in the EU for the first time and have not previously been registered outside of the EU. Category M1 means vehicles for the carriage of passengers with no more than 9 seats, including the driver’s seat, as defined in Annex II of Directive 2007/46/EC establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
*New light commercial vehicles are Category N1 vehicles with a mass not exceeding 2610kg and those type approved under Regulation (EC) 715/2007 which are registered in the EU for the first time and have not previously been registered outside of the EU. Category N1 means vehicles for the carriage of goods with a maximum mass of 3.5 tonnes. as defined in Annex II of Directive 2007/46/EC establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Zero emissions category N vehicles with a mass exceeding 2480kg will be counted as light commercial vehicles from 1st January 2025, if the excess mass is due to the energy storage system.
If a vehicle has been registered outside of the EU for less than 3 months before it is registered in the EU, then it is will still be considered a ‘new’ vehicle.
The Regulation does not apply to special purpose vehicles, i.e. a vehicle intended to perform a function which requires special body arrangements and/or equipment. This category includes wheel-chair accessible vehicles, caravans, and ambulances, as defined by Part A of Annex II of Directive 2007/46/EC establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Manufacturers responsible for fewer than 1000 new passenger cars or light commercial vehicles registered in the EU in the previous calendar year are not required to comply with certain requirements, including the requirement to meet specific emissions targets and pay excess emissions premium.
Amendment
Changes are made to set CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles for the period 2021-2024, so that UK CO2 targets are fully established, and relevant data can be collected. The new specific emissions targets that manufacturers must meet are outlined below.
- Where the average specific emissions of CO2 in 2020 is 0, the specific emissions target in 2021 is the same as that set in 2020, calculated in accordance with points 1 and 2 of Part A of Annex I for new passenger cars, and points 1 and 2 of Part B of Annex I for new light commercial vehicles.
- For calendar years 2021 to 2024, the specific emissions target in 2021 is the average of the specific emissions targets for all manufacturers calculated in accordance with point 3 of Part A of Annex I for new passenger cars, and point 3 of Part B of Annex I for new light commercial vehicles, weighted by the number of new passenger cars, or new light commercial vehicles respectively, registered for those manufacturers in 2020.
- For calendar years 2021 to 2024, where the manufacturer was formed by merging of 2 or more manufacturers, the specific emissions target in 2021 is one of the following.
- Where 2 or more of the merging manufacturers were responsible for new passenger cars or new light commercial vehicles in 2020, the specific emissions target in 2021 is the average of the specific emissions targets for those manufacturers, calculated in accordance with point 3 of Part A of Annex I for new passenger cars, and point 3 of Part B of Annex I for new light commercial vehicles, weighted by the number of new passenger cars, or new light commercial vehicles respectively, registered for those manufacturers in 2020.
- Where only one of the merging manufacturers was responsible for new passenger cars or new light commercial vehicles in 2020, the specific emissions target in 2021 for that manufacturer is calculated in accordance with point 3 of Part A of Annex I for new passenger cars, and point 3 of Part B of Annex I for new light commercial vehicles.
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