Search Results for: cars

BY KEITH NUTHALL

HEAVIER cars such as SUVs and luxury models will be able to breach a proposed European Union (EU) carbon dioxide cap, under legislation tabled this week (Wednesday) by the European Commission. Pressure from German manufacturers forced Brussels into abandoning an absolute cap for all new models of 130 grams of CO2 per kilometre.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

EUROPEAN Union (EU) ministers have been asked to extend until December 2010 the authorisation for Britain to act outside EU VAT law by charging 50% input tax on the hire or lease of passenger cars used for business and private use, so drivers can avoid keeping of detailed private mileage records.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

AS the European Commission continues drafting a carbon dioxide cap law for European Union (EU) cars, a rift is growing between Germany and France – usually dominant partners in EU politics – over the treatment of luxury cars.…

BY DEIRDRE MASON, in London

NEW European Commission plans to free up the market for hydrogen-powered cars and pump money into development are gaining friends. Car makers and research bodies alike are hoping that the proposals, announced in Brussels in October, survive their passage through the European Parliament and the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers – the EU’s legislative bodies.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) is refusing to give up on Russia and its neighbours as stable energy partners for the future, despite the largely inconclusive summit between member states and Moscow last month (October) in Mafra, Portugal. It failed to make progress on the demands from the European Commission for reciprocal liberalisation in Russian energy markets, should the EU allow Russian companies – notably Gazprom – a free hand in member states gas sectors.…

By Keith Nuthall in Brussels

European Union (EU) researchers have devised a way of reducing the weight of noise insulation materials in cars without making them noisier. The EU research network Eureka says the Euro 4 million France-led project E!2411 ERTAC has discovered that by layering compressed felt with a low density felt, the weight of sound insulation could be cut by 50%.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

EUROPEAN Union (EU) researchers have devised a way of reducing the weight of noise insulation materials in cars without making them noisier. The EU research network Eureka says the Euro 4 million France-led project E!2411 ERTAC has discovered that by layering compressed felt with a low density felt, the weight of sound insulation can be cut by 50%.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Parliament’s industry committee has proposed a special derogation from the anticipated European Union (EU) carbon dioxide cap, allowing cars with special safety features to emit more CO2. It argues additional safety equipment can be heavy, forcing cars to emit more carbon dioxide to attain their standard performance.…

BY CHRIS JONES, in Paris

AUTO manufacturers in Europe are calling for greater support from national governments and European Union (EU) institutions in promoting eco-driving – where good motoring styles are adopted which reduce the greenhouse gas and other polluting emissions from vehicles.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

EUROPEAN Union (EU) ministers have opposed proposals suggested by the French government earlier this year that products imported into the EU including cars, should attract additional VAT if they either emit excess CO2 or their manufacture involved profligate greenhouse gas pollution.…