Diana fights for fuel efficient cars

1.56.53pm GMT Wed 27th Jan 2010

Car drivers are getting more miles to the gallon out of their vehicles, with big improvements still to come.

Local Liberal Democrat Euro MP, Diana Wallis, says that the fuel efficiency is set to increase by by 20% over the next six years.

Car manufacturers are gearing up to meet the requirements of a new EU law that forces them to reduce CO2 emissions from the fuel they burn.

Latest figures for the 12 million cars sold in Europe in 2008 reveal that average emissions were down by 3.3%, the largest fall since records began to be kept a decade ago.

The MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber says that the manufacturers are introducing long overdue changes.

She said to Minster FM today: "Car manufacturers were slow to start, but they are now being forced to curb CO2 emissions.

"It all means that vehicles are becoming more fuel efficient and this will help to keep down the cost of driving."

Average emissions from new cars sold in the UK during 2008 stood at 158.2 gCO2/km compared to a European average of 153.5 gCO2/km.

Across Europe currently 47.3% of car sold are fuelled by petrol, 51.4% by diesel, while 1.3% use alternative power sources.