Legislation: ‘Efficiency’ regulations for fossil-fuel vehicles imminent?

Regulations aimed at improving the efficiency of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles could well be imminent, informed by appropriate norms and standards, reports Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch. Transport Minister Blade Nzimande alluded to this on Tuesday in an address to delegates at a motor sport conference, when he also spoke of a five-year plan for converting ‘5% of the public and national sector fleet … to cleaner alternative fuel and efficient technologies vehicles’ – ‘ideally powered through renewable energy’. The annual conversion target will then be reduced to 2%. According to the Minister, this is in line with government’s 30-year green transport strategy, which was released in February. Largely silent on practicalities, the strategy proposes a host of interventions entirely dependent on funding availability.

Regarding his department’s commitment to facilitating a shift away from road freight and passenger transport to rail, Nzimande referred to modest percentage targets but nevertheless provided no timeframes or relevant detail. This despite a pointed reminder of government’s ongoing local and foreign direct investment drive and the automotive sector’s potential to participate. Noting the myriad technological advancements associated with ‘eco mobility’ and the importance of ‘embracing’ fourth industrial revolution opportunities, the Minister drew attention to the importance of implementing the necessary measures without impacting negatively on employment. He may have been alluding to the implications of all these advancements for jobs in coal mining and related activities.

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