Impact of the car purchase subsidy policy in Andorra: an ex-post analysis of CO2 emissions reduction

(ENG) This paper analyses the impact of two car purchase subsidies schemes applied in the Principality of Andorra during 2014 and 2015 in terms of energy and CO2 emissions. A model representing car fleet energy consumption in 2013 is used to conduct the analysis. It is developed through a bottom-up methodology using vehicle registration and technical inspection data. The model estimates energy consumption and CO2 emissions using fleet structure, mileage profile and fuel economy as explanatory variables. Private car fleet in 2013 is disaggregated into different categories according to fuel type, engine size and vintage (car age). New registered and scrappage vehicles associated to the 2014 and 2015 subsidy programs have been introduced to the base model in order to quantify their impact in the car fleet energy consumption and CO2 emissions. These effects are compared between the two programs as they had different characteristics. In contrast to the previous year, the 2015 scheme did not link the economic incentives to the purchased car fuel economy. Finally, the effectiveness of the subsidy policies are assessed in terms of CO2 abatement costs (Euros/TCO2) and compared to the effectiveness of other energy efficiency policies.