German cars are some of the largest gaz-guzzling vehicles in the EU today, and the shift to an emission level of 120g/km would have hit the German new car market badly. Most car makers are finding it tough to reach the voluntary drop to 140g/km and would find 120 a drop too far.

Experts have stated that a drop to 120 would cause such a demand for low-emission fuels that supply would simply not be there. This would cause fuel prices to escalate.

In such a regulated sector as the EU, the inability to agree on a low CO2 limit bodes ill for efforts to reduce global warming worldwide. Maybe some blue-sky thinking is called for and future transportation practices will require drastic changes.

The German new car market is also being hit badly by a rise in the VAT rate there from 16% to 19%.

Latest - the target has been revised to 130 g/km as an average for the whole car market. It is expected that car systems will be enhanced to aid lower emissions including the fitting of tyre pressure monitoring equipment, better engine efficiency, bio fuels and changes to tyre design.

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