New tyre labelling system will generate huge energy savings

The EU Parliament, Council and Commission came to a political agreement yesterday (November 14) on tyre labelling in order to encourage consumers to make better energy-saving choices. 

The new agreement will improve and strengthen current regulation to encourage European consumers to make better environmental choices when it comes to their vehicles.

The new rules will make the labelling of tyres more visible and accurate and there will also be improved enforcement and surveillance. The regulation will start to apply on May 1, 2021.

According to the report, between 2014 and 2017 energy consumption in road transport increased by 5.6%.

The resistance of tyres accounts for 20-30% of their fuel consumption, and the European Parliament believes it’s vital to have clear labelling so that consumers can make better environmental choices.

The European Parliament has said that they hope the new labelling system will bring energy savings equivalent to taking 4 million cars off EU roads every year.

Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete said: ‘Energy efficiency must first apply to the way we drive.’

‘By switching to the most energy-efficient tyres, European citizens can reduce their fuel consumption significantly, saving money and helping the environment.’

‘This is the European path to real energy security and climate protection: by being more energy efficient in all areas of our life, we can reduce our energy bills and our dependence on imported and costly energy, as well as create jobs and render the European economy more sustainably.’

In related news, a government-backed scheme will see car dealerships who provide a quality service selling electric vehicles (EVs) formally accredited.

Successful dealerships will be known as ‘Electric Vehicle Approved’, and following a pilot scheme, in which the electric vehicle skills of 12 dealerships were audited, it’s estimated there will be 130 Electric Vehicle Approved sites across the UK by the end of 2019.

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