The European Parliament has voted to approve legislation that would ban the sale of new cars and vans that emit CO2 emissions in the European Union by 2035. The legislation calls for a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions from new cars by 2030 compared to 2021 levels, with a 100% target by 2035. For vans, it will be a 50% reduction by 2030 and 100% by 2035. The proposal is part of an overarching plan for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050, which was first put forward by the European Commission in 2021.
The European Council will now need to formally endorse the rule before it passes into law. Unlike similar plans in California and New York state, which classify certain plug-in hybrids as zero-emission vehicles, the EU's target pushes for fully electric vehicles, including battery and hydrogen-electric vehicles.
The rule focuses on CO2 emissions rather than the type of powertrain, which means there may be loopholes for internal-combustion vehicles running on carbon-neutral fuels like hydrogen or synthetic fuel. Germany has been pushing for such an exemption.
In addition, automakers producing fewer than 10,000 vehicles per year will be able to negotiate weaker targets until they are required to meet the 100% target by 2036. Automakers producing fewer than 1,000 vehicles per year will be exempt altogether.
"This regulation encourages the production of zero- and low-emission vehicles," said Bas Eickhout, a member of the European Parliament. "It contains an ambitious revision of the targets for 2030 and a zero-emission target for 2035, which is crucial to reach climate neutrality by 2050. These targets create clarity for the car industry and stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers. Purchasing and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers, and a second-hand market will emerge more quickly. It makes sustainable driving accessible to everyone."
Source: European Parliament
