Article: Drive to make cars go further on less

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail 18 Feb 2008 page 9  - not on line

Drive to make cars go further on less

Drive to make cars go further on less

Brian Williams
ENVIRONMENT REPORTER

CONSERVATIONISTS have called on the Rudd Government to introduce mandatory fuel efficiency standards on Australian-built cars of 6.8litres/100km, claiming it would save suburban drivers about $1000 a year.

With petrol having nudged $1.50 a litre in some places, the Australian Conservation Foundation argues that introducing mandatory standards and investing in public transport will reduce the pain of petrol price increases and tackle climate change.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Andrew McKellar rejected the idea, saying car makers were always trying to improve fuel economy, such as introducing diesel engines.

"This is quite an unnecessary move. Industry already has in place a voluntary target to reduce CO2 emissions for all light vehicles to 22 grams per km by 2010," Mr McKellar said.

ACF Sustainable Australia program manager Alison Cleary said reduced fuel usage combined with public transport and rail funding could help Australia become cleaner and more sustainable.

The previous government had a voluntary agreement with industry for cars to have a fuel efficiency of 6.8litres/100km by the year 2010.

"But almost no progress has been made towards that target, with only one Australian- manufactured car model having an efficiency of less than 10 litres/100km in 2006," Ms Cleary said.

The comments come as Australia's peak motoring organisation, the Australian Automotive Association, welcomed the Government's choice of petrol commissioner, Patrick Walker, who was the architect of Western Australia's unique Fuelwatch service.

Mr Walker will oversee the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's monitoring of fuel prices as well as providing an annual report on the ACCC's findings.
He also will have thejob of investigating industry price gouging and collusion.