Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• 01 Dec 2016, 10:28 AM
  - Alternative-fuel vehicles as a proportion of the total fleet

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Increasingly tight regulations have resulted in the gradual introduction and promotion of more fuel-efficient, less polluting vehicles. The total stock of alternative fuel vehicles, as well as their new registrations, is an indirect indication of the level of improvement of road transport fuel efficiency and pollutant emissions. The overall objective of this specific indicator is to monitor the penetration of alternative fuel vehicles and hence to be able to estimate progress towards environmental targets.

Scientific references

• No rationale references available

Indicator definition

This indicator measures alternative-fuel vehicles as a proportion of the total vehicle fleet. This is defined as the number of vehicles (by vehicle type and fuel) per total number of vehicles (by vehicle type).

Units

The units used in this indicator are the total population of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and buses by alternative fuel type (LPG, NG and electric).

Policy context and targets

Context description

A number of policies have been adopted that contribute to meeting targets set at EU level. This includes the 20-20-20 policy package, which came into force in 2009. This package sets two targets: an overarching 20 % cut in greenhouse gas emissions in Europe below 1990 levels by 2020; and a 60 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transport below 1990 levels by 2050, as set out in the 2011 Transport White Paper. 

The CO₂ emissions targets for new cars and vans contribute to meeting these targets. Regulation 443/2009 sets a CO₂ ‘specific emission’ target of 130 grams per kilometre (g/km) by 2015 for new passenger cars sold in the EU. A long-term target of 95 g/km has been set for 2020. Specific targets for vans have also been introduced in Regulation 510/2011. The first target level (175 g/km), has been phased in since 2014 and be reached in 2017, and a second target level (147 g/km) should be reached in 2020.

Targets

There are no specific objectives or targets related to the number of different types of alternative fuel vehicles as a proportion of the total vehicle fleet. Policy objectives are rather set with respect to the environmental performance of newly registered passenger cars and vans.

Related policy documents

• REGULATION (EC) No 443/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 443/2009
  Regulation (ec) no 443/2009 of the European parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the community's integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles.
• REGULATION (EU) No 510/2011
  REGULATION (EU) No 510/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL setting emission performance standards for new light commercial vehicles as part of the Union's integrated approach to reduce CO 2 emissions from light-duty vehicles

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Alternative-fuel vehicles (LPG, NG, electric) as a proportion of the total vehicle fleet for each vehicle type (passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, buses) is calculated by dividing the number of alternative fuel vehicles by the total fleet for each vehicle type.

Methodology for gap filling

Data gaps are filled either by interpolation, where data between reported data are missing, or by using the first (or last) reported value.

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

Data specifications

EEA data references

• No datasets have been specified here.

External data references

• Common Questionnaire for Inland Transport Statistics (Eurostat)
• EC4MACS model

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Not available.

Data sets uncertainty

The data on the stock of alternative-fuel vehicles mostly come from statistical sources and are hence considered reliable. Data on new registrations are also reliable as they are officially submitted by EU Member States as part of their CO₂ reporting obligations. Sibyl and EC4MACS have been used to fill data gaps.

Rationale uncertainty

Not available.