Report: Britain averaged over 50mpg in 2013

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According to the latest figures from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Britain averaged OVER 50mpg last year.

The institution analysed efficiency figures for all new cars sold in the UK in 2013, working out the average CO2 emissions from the 2.26 million cars sold in Britain last year and coming up with a figure of 128.3g/km.

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That’s already below the 130g/km CO2 average target manufacturers have set themselves for 2015 and marks a 16th successive year of reductions.

Indicating just how much more efficient modern cars are, the 2013 performance was over 29% lower than in the year 2000, where the results showed an average of 181g/km CO2 exactly.

The UK is tracking ahead of targets for 2015 and 2020

Of all the new cars sold in 2013, 49.8% were diesel, while 48.8% were petrol vehicles. Alternatively fuelled cars (hybrids and electric cars) accounted for just 1.4%, although that was a record number of registrations according to the SMMT, the number having doubled in six years from the 0.7% share in 2007.

That 128.3g/km CO2 average figure works out to roughly 50mpg for petrol vehicles and around 57mpg for diesel cars, meaning new motors in the UK averaged well over 50mpg, according to official manufacturer figures.

The results show that the modern trend for downsizing towards smaller, turbocharged engines has had an effect on lowering CO2 emissions and improving efficiency across the board.

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It bodes well for 2020, too, with the automotive industry setting itself a challenge to achieve a 45% reduction on 2007’s 164.9g/km CO2 output. Phased in over 12 months, by 2021 EU law will dictate that manufacturer’s average fleet emissions will have to be below 95g/km.

At the moment, the UK is tracking ahead of these targets for both 2015 and 2020, despite more cars being sold and used across the nation.

Although the SMMT’s data is based on quoted fuel economy from vehicle manufacturers, another report by the European body Transport and Environment published at the end of 2013 broadly confirms the findings.

Transport and Environment’s 2012 data shows that Fiat was the most efficient new car manufacturer when it comes to average fleet CO2 emissions, with a total of 118.4g/km.

Following the Italian brand was Toyota on 122.1g/km CO2, and PSA Peugeot Citroen on 122.4g/km.

The industry average was found to be 132.4g/km CO2, meaning over 12 months further on, the European car industry is highly likely to have achieved its goal two years early.

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By Sean Carson, contributor, MSN Cars