Tag Archive: hybrid cars

  1. CO2 emissions from new cars and vans further decrease as electric vehicle sales grow in Europe

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    Source: European Environment Agency

    According to provisional data released by the European Environment Agency (EEA), average CO2 emissions from newly registered cars in Europe continued to decline in 2023, showing a 1.4% reduction compared to 2022. Similarly, emissions from new vans decreased by 1.6% from the previous year. These declines are largely attributed to the increasing prevalence of fully electric vehicles.

    The provisional data, detailing newly registered cars and vans in Europe, indicate that 10.7 million new cars were registered in Europe in 2023, marking a 13.2% rise from 2022. Nearly a quarter of these registrations were electric, either fully or as plug-in hybrids, with Norway, Sweden, and Iceland having the highest shares of electric cars at 90.5%, 60.7%, and 60.4%, respectively.

    In 2023, 1.2 million new vans were registered in Europe, representing a 20.2% increase from 2022 levels. The proportion of electric vans reached 8%, with more than half of these registrations occurring in France, Germany, and Sweden.

    Key figures:

    • New passenger cars: 10.7 million registrations (+13.2% from 2022), 106.6 g CO2/km average emissions (-1.4%), 23.6% electric (including plug-in hybrids), 15.5% fully electric, and an average mass of 1,545 kg (+1.3%).
    • New vans: 1.2 million registrations (+20.2% from 2022), 180.8 g CO2/km average emissions (-1.6%), 8% fully electric, and an average mass of 1,896 kg (+1%).

    The transport sector accounts for approximately a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, with road transport contributing approximately three-quarters of this. The EU aims to reduce transport emissions by 90% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels and achieve zero emissions for all new cars and vans by 2035.

    About the vehicle data

    The EEA gathers data on new vehicle registrations in Europe under Regulation (EU) 2019/631, based on the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). The data, which will be finalized later in the year after manufacturers review them, are currently provisional. The EEA also publishes real-world CO2 emissions and fuel consumption data, collected via on-board fuel consumption monitoring (OBFCM) devices, to compare laboratory and actual road performance. Further analysis is provided by the European Commission.

    Provisional datasets reflect the CO2 emissions calculated through laboratory testing, the EEA has previously published data on real-world CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of cars and vans.

  2. THOR AVAS conducts tests with blind listeners

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    Recently a team from LEVA-EU member THOR AVAS gathered to conduct another experiment and test their Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) product among the participants who most depend on sound sensations in this world – with blind listeners. The World Blind Union initially influenced with its appeal to the UN several years ago, for the implementation of sound in silent electric cars in order to reduce the number of accidents with their wards.

    It was this step that led to changes in the legislation of the EU and the USA, and then China and Japan, where AVAS systems became mandatory for installation on all hybrid and electric cars.

    The difference between THOR AVAS and other systems is its more complex and at the same time harmonious sounds, consisting not only of warning layers (high-frequency repeating signals), but also softer components, which makes soundtracks more enjoyable. Plus, all the sounds are associated with movement, speed up and down, and don’t just beep like toys.

    A team of engineers, acousticians and sound designers create sounds and upgrade the system, subjecting it to various tests, including live tests, where real people help determine the visibility of an approaching electric car.

    To conduct tests on the street, a stand with many sensors and microphones was assembled. Participants were seated on chairs and given remote controls to press, triggering a signal which the operator received on the main computer, collecting data about the speed of the car, the volume of the system and the distance at which people noticed the approach of the electric car. The work was carried out in different speed modes – 10-20-30 km/h – and at different AVAS volumes, but within the limits permitted by UN rule No. 138, according to which all AVAS systems must operate. Listeners also participated in tests where AVAS was completely turned off to understand the difference between the sound from the tires and the system.

    The THOR AVAS team state that it is too early to talk about results, since there is still a huge amount of data processing work to be done; they will talk about it in their next report.

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