The perverse effects of the bonus-malus automobile
This device has not reduced CO2 emissions, however. Concerned, the greatest number of vehicles purchased, and higher mileage. In 2008, emissions of CO2 from cars rose by nearly 170 kilotonnes per quarter.
On 1 January 2008, the ink of the Grenelle Environment barely dry, the bonus-malus ecological comes into force. His goal: reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by the French fleet, by encouraging financially the purchase of low emission vehicles. "This is to give a competitive advantage to virtuous products," brags Borloo, Minister of Ecology.
Las … Researchers at the INSEE recently shown that the device had actually resulted in higher total CO2 emissions. Yes, the French began to buy greener cars: average emissions of new vehicles increased from 149 grams of CO2 per kilometer in 2007 to 130 grams in 2010. But this performance was not exceptional: the period, France ranks only sixth European countries where such discharges have declined most. And, above all, it is not enough to say that the measure has actually rendered service to the environment. "The fleet size, composition, mileage per car [...] and the effect on sales of new vehicles must also be taken into account," insists the study.
Measure the effects of mixed origin CO2 (1) short-term (2) long-term (3) releases due to the "greening" of cars – from 80.4 to 155.0 releases due to the increase in the number of kilometers traveled per vehicle + 6.1 + 73.0 releases due to the construction of additional vehicles + 232.1 + 29.0 releases due to the rising number of automobiles in circulation + + 10.4 + 9.5 Total 168 , 2 to 43.8% in total emissions (actual or projected) + 1.2% – 0.4%
All this put together, emissions of CO2 from cars have actually increased by almost 170 kilotonnes per quarter for 2008 alone. The French, encouraged by the extent and fearing it disappears, bought more cars: the overall volume of sales in early 2008 was 13% higher than expected without the device. Hence an increase of the mechanical quantity of CO2 emitted. Besides the automobile manufacturing industry is very clean: from the Environment Agency and energy management, it generates 5.5 tonnes of CO2 per tonne produced. Added to this is finally a "rebound effect": the households buying more economical vehicles may tend to use it more.
The device has boosted sales of diesel, more polluting
In the longer term, the INSEE experts are somewhat less negative about the bonus-malus. Admittedly, the government tightened the device in 2010 because it was too costly for public finances (1.5 billion euros in cumulative). The new scale would push manufacturers to innovate and bring to market cars less polluting. Over time, this would offset the negative effects already mentioned.
But this is an argument "all things being equal". In real life, the economic crisis has pushed the State to establish, shortly after the creation of no-claims bonus, a "cash for clunkers". According to the Court of Auditors, the two measures, together, have had "a positive effect on purchases of smaller vehicles, to the detriment, at least temporarily, public transport". With, ultimately, a zero profit for the environment.
Worse, if one takes into account all of the pollution emitted by cars, the impact is even strongly negative. Also according to the Court of Auditors, it is unfortunate that "the bonus-malus system based on the single objective of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, without taking into account [...] nitrogen dioxide, fine particles or nitrogen oxides ". This led to a postponement of buyers to diesel vehicles, more efficient in terms of CO2 emissions, but much less regarding these other pollutants. But these are very harmful not only for the planet, but also for the health …