The European Union has taken a major step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the approval of a new law banning all new sales of ICE vehicles from 2035. The European Commission has also proposed new targets to cut CO2 emissions from city buses and trucks from 2030 and onward. Here’s what you need to know.
The new law, which was approved last year but still needs to go through one more round of approvals in March, officially bans the sale of all new petrol and diesel vehicles in the entire 27-country bloc. This latest revision signed yesterday, according to Reuters, sees a 55% cut in CO2 emissions for new cars sold from 2030 versus 2021 compared to the previous target of 37.5%.
However, the law only addresses new cars, not the second-hand market, meaning that a brand-new ICE vehicle bought in 2034 will still be legal to drive in 2035 and onward. Additionally, smaller carmakers producing less than 10,000 vehicles a year are given a workaround to meet weaker targets until 2036.
European car manufacturers are already on board with plans to heavily invest in electrification, including Volkswagen’s commitment to only produce electric cars in Europe from 2033. Others, such as Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Jaguar, have already begun shifting their global production strategies toward an all-electric future.
The European Commission has also proposed stronger CO2 emissions standards for all new heavy-duty vehicles, including city buses and long-haul trucks, with the aim of gradually shifting to zero emissions in the coming years. The plan suggests a 45% emissions reduction from 2030, then 65% emission reduction from 2035, to 90% from 2040. City buses are required to meet zero-emissions standards by 2030.
Heavy-duty vehicles account for more than 6% of total EU greenhouse gases and more than 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions from road transport. There has been pushback from the auto industry over the past year, but legislators are already debating the potential loss of employment for hundreds of thousands of people in the ICE industry and the rising electricity costs.
The shift to electric vehicles won’t be easy, especially in a fragile economy with millions, maybe billions, of euros still needed to build out electric grid infrastructure in a sustainable way to ensure EVs run on clean power. A McKinsey study estimates this bill at upward of €240 billion by 2030. In terms of public chargers, the EU offers about five public chargers for every 100km, and the European Federation for Transport and Environment suggests that deploying 2.7 million public charging points throughout the continent by 2030 would require around €1.8 billion.
It’s clear that the European Union is taking steps towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to an all-electric future. While there are still many challenges ahead, it is encouraging to see that progress is being made.
FAQ
Q1. When will electric cars be available in the UK?
A1. Electric cars are already available in the UK.
Q2. Where can I find electric car charging stations near me?
A2. You can use online resources such as Zap-Map to find electric car charging stations near you.
Q3. Which electric car is the best?
A3. The best electric car depends on your individual needs and preferences. It is recommended to research different models and compare features before making a purchase.
