Overall, since currently about two-thirds of new cars are sold in the OECD, the 50% GFEI target still appears appropriate and achievable on a world-wide basis. More specifically, the 2005 average global new vehicle fuel economy level of about 8 L/100km can probably be reduced to close to 4 L/100km. This is equivalent to increasing fuel economy from about 30 to about 60 MPG, from 12.5 km/L to 25 km/L, or reducing CO₂ emissions from gasoline vehicles from 186 gCO₂/km to 93 gCO₂/km. A new vehicle fleet average fuel economy level of 4 L/100km by 2030, or something close to it, may be a useful target for most countries to aim at.

In some countries it may be necessary to augment the incremental technology improvements described elsewhere in this paper, with widespread use of electric vehicles to reach these targets. The need for this will depend on whether additional incremental fuel economy technologies not accounted for in current studies become available and achieve widespread commercialization over the next 20 years. More generally, the regulation of fuel economy will tend to limit increases in vehicle size and performance, and in some countries regulation to meet the targets may require changes to the current size mix and/or performance of vehicles.

—‘50 by 50’, Prospects and Progress

The report addressed seven broad topics:

1. Factors explaining current cross-country differences in average new car vehicle fuel economy.
2. Recent studies of the technical potential to improve average new car fuel economy.
3. Translating “technical potential” into equivalent actual improvement in average new car fuel economy
4. Major policy initiatives recently finalized by the EU and the US to improve average new car fuel economy; policy initiatives being undertaken by certain other governments
5. Potential to accelerate fleet turnover: possible lessons from recent policy initiatives
6. Cross-country flows of used cars
7. GFEI capability building efforts

Worldwide, the car fleet is set to triple by 2050, with serious implications for the global effort to address climate change unless reducing transport emissions and improving fuel economy become an urgent global priority, warns the GFEI. The report challenges everyone with an interest in this issue to take the appropriate action to achieve this objective:

• Governments must create the conditions for industry to deliver the maximum from technological innovation, while fiscal instruments need to be coherent and consistent with targets;

• Countries which have not done so should launch national fuel economy initiatives, while around the world binding fuel economy targets must be set;

• Manufacturers must set fuel economy as a top priority, and be ambitious in negotiating long term fuel economy targets with government.

According to the report, of key importance is creating a regulatory and fiscal environment that steers manufacturers towards using technology to improve fuel economy rather than enhanced performance and heavier vehicles. It must also steer consumer demand towards more energy efficient vehicles. Countries must start developing national fuel economy initiatives right now and the GFEI is working with regions and countries around the world to move forward in this respect.

The GFEI, launched in early 2009, is a partnership of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), International Energy Agency (IEA), International Transport Forum (ITF) and FIA Foundation.

The GFEI is supporting countries worldwide to develop the frameworks and policies required to significantly improve automotive fuel economy. The GFEI is also attempting to raise awareness and capacity of all stakeholders, including lawmakers and the general public, on the issue of fuel economy. This will be done by supporting national policy development, labelling programs, public information campaigns and continued use of workshops and conferences to share information and the results of recent research.

Resources

• 50 by 50, Prospects and Progress