The European Union has approved a plan to end sales of internal combustion engine vehicles in Europe by 2035, the bloc of 27 announced early Wednesday, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions to zero.
First proposed in July 2021, the measure means a de facto ban on sales of petrol and diesel cars and light commercial vehicles and a full switch to electric motors in the European Union from 2035.
The plan aims to help meet the continent’s climate goals, specifically achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
At the request of countries such as Germany and Italy, the EU-27 have also agreed to examine the green light for the use of alternative technologies such as synthetic fuels or plug-in hybrids in the future.
While approval would be conditional on the complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions, the technologies have been challenged by environmental NGOs.
The meeting of environment ministers in Luxembourg also approved a five-year extension of the CO2 exemption for so-called “niche manufacturers” or those with an annual production of less than 10,000 vehicles until the end of 2035.
Sometimes dubbed the “Ferrari Amendment,” the clause will benefit luxury brands in particular.
These measures must now be negotiated with members of the European Parliament.
“This is a major challenge for our automotive industry,” confirmed French Minister for Ecological Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher, who chaired Tuesday evening’s meeting.
But she said it’s a “necessity” given competition from China and the United States, which have bet heavily on EVs, which are believed to be the future of the industry.
These decisions will “enable a planned and accompanied transition,” said the minister.
– Openness to synthetic fuels –
The European automotive industry, which is already investing heavily in the EV switchover, fears the social impact of moving too quickly.
“The overwhelming majority of car manufacturers have opted for electric cars,” said Frans Timmermans, the EU Commission Vice-President responsible for the European Green Deal, at a press conference.
He reiterated the willingness of the EU body to be open to other technologies, such as synthetic fuels, also known as e-fuels.
“We are technology neutral. What we want are zero-emission cars,” he explained.
“Right now, e-fuels don’t seem like a realistic solution, but if manufacturers can prove otherwise in the future, we’re open.”
The synthetic fuels technology currently being explored consists of producing fuel from CO2 from industrial activities using low-carbon electricity in a circular economy approach.
Like the oil industry, the automotive sector has high hopes for these new fuels, which would expand the use of internal combustion engines, now threatened by the advent of fully electric vehicles.
However, environmental organizations reject the use of this technology in cars because it is considered expensive and energy-consuming.
The synthetically fueled engines also emit as much nitrogen oxide (NOx) as their fossil fuel equivalents, they say.
Cars are the main means of transport for Europeans and cause almost 15 percent of the total CO2 emissions in the EU. It is also one of the main gases responsible for global warming.
In response to manufacturers’ concerns about insufficient consumer demand for 100% electric cars, the Commission has recommended a major expansion of charging stations.
“There must be charging points every 60 kilometers along the main roads in Europe,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last year.
Especially in southern and eastern European countries, manufacturers regularly complain about the lack of such an infrastructure.
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