Plastic Fuel Tank’s Legislative Framework

Regulation on CO₂ Emissions

On 17 December 2008 the European Parliament voted to adopt a Regulation on CO₂ from cars, which is based on a proposal adopted by the European Commission (EC).

The proposal of the EC (COM(2007) 856 final) was to gradually set tighter emission limits for cars, in particular nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particles and to reduce the average CO₂ emissions of new passenger cars which account for about 12% of the EU’s carbon emissions. It is the cornerstone of the EU's strategy to improve the fuel economy of cars and ensure that average emissions from the new passenger car fleet in the Community do not exceed 120 g CO₂/km through an integrated approach.

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/transport/co2/co2_home.htm

Euro 5 and Euro 6

The new standards (known as Euro 5 and 6) will apply from 1 September 2009, setting tighter emission limits of particles and of NOx for new cars and vans sold in the EU market (e.g. an 80% cut in the emission limit for particulate matters from diesel cars under Euro 5). This makes the introduction of particle filters for diesel cars obligatory. Euro 6 will set significantly lower emission limits for NOx emissions from diesel cars (68 % lower than today’s emission limit) and will enter into force five years after Euro 5, i.e. in 2014.

Source: Tighter emission limits for cars after EP adoption of Euro 5 and 6, Press release 13-12-2006, European Commission, DG Enterprise, Automotive

Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) and Advanced Technology PZEVs (AT PZEV)

PZEVs meet SULEV tailpipe emission standards and have zero evaporative emissions and a 15 year / 150000 mile warranty. No evaporative emissions means that they have fewer emissions while being driven than a typical gasoline car has while just sitting.

AT PZEVs meet the PZEV requirements and have additional ZEV-like characteristics. A dedicated compressed natural gas vehicle or a hybrid vehicle with engine emissions that meet the PZEV standards would be an AT PZEV. ZEV - Zero Emission Vehicles ZEVs have zero tailpipe emissions are 98% cleaner than the average new model year vehicle. These include battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Sources: DRIVECLEAN.CA.GOV 

Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV)

Directive 2008/33/EC aims to prevent waste from vehicles and to promote reuse and recycling as well as other forms of recovery of vehicles and their components.

The scope of the Directive covers end-of-life vehicles and their components (original or not) and materials.

Biofuels

Directive 2003/30/EC (8 May 2003) establishes the guidelines to expand the production of bio-fuels. It has sent targets for bio-fuels’ sales to 5.75% for the year 2010.

The EU motor industry generally accepts up to 5% blends while some countries are already using bio-fuel blends of 10% and even higher.

The deadline for Member States to meet these targets and to transpose them into National law was 31 December 2004.

REACH

REACH is the Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It entered into force on 1 June 2007 to streamline and improve the former legislative framework on chemicals of the European Union (EU). REACH places greater responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to the health and the environment.

In principle REACH applies to all chemicals: not only chemicals used in industrial processes but also in our day-to-day life, for example in cleaning products, paints as well as in articles such as clothes, furniture and electrical appliances.

Sources: http://echa.europa.eu/