Cars are getting more and more economical worldwide. But only very slowly. This has not least to do with the current car and engine trends.
Fuel consumption of new cars is falling worldwide - but development is slowing down. Especially in the most advanced countries, the reduction has almost come to a standstill, according to a study by the environmental protection organization Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI).
Worldwide, the average consumption of new passenger cars 2017 was 7,2 liters per 100 kilometers. Compared to the previous year, this represents a fall of 1,4 percent - this is the lowest reduction rate since the start of the surveys in the year 2005. In addition to global values, GFEI also provides data for specific groups of countries. According to this, consumption is falling very slowly in states with a highly developed economy and high fuel prices, which also includes EU countries. There, the average consumption of new cars 2017 was 5,8 liters, the reduction compared to the previous year at 0,1 percent.
According to the study, one of the most important reasons for the only gradual improvement, especially in the industrialized nations, is the falling proportion of relatively economical diesel engines in new registrations, which cannot be offset by the slowly growing proportion of e-cars. Added to this is the ever-increasing trend towards thirsty SUVs and pick-ups.
The objective of the GFEI, which includes the International Energy Agency IEA, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the OECD, the Automobile Federation FIA and the environmental protection organization ICCT, is a worldwide average consumption of 4,4 liters in the year 2030. This would require an annual reduction of 3,7 percent.
