EU proposes bold new car electrification strategy

Staff Writer

As part of a package of measures to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, proposes to reduce vehicle carbon dioxide emissions from current levels by 55% by 2030 and increase to 100% by 2035. The proposal actually aims to completely ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles, including hybrid vehicles, in the 27 EU member states from 2035.

  • The EU proposes to ban the sale of non-electric vehicles in all EU countries
  • Low-volume manufacturers will no longer be exempt from emission regulations
  • The plan includes legislation to promote the infrastructure needed for large-scale electric vehicles

EU emission targets

The new goal is a substantial increase in current measures, and currently requires that carbon dioxide emissions be reduced by 37.5% by 2030. These goals have become stricter and have forced automakers to substantially increase their electric vehicle products to avoid heavy EU fines.

More importantly, the proposal includes the abolition of the exemption for low-volume manufacturers (manufacturers that produce 1,000 to 10,000 new cars per year), and they will no longer be exempted under the new proposal.

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

The new goals align the goals of the EU and the United Kingdom in general. The British government has announced a ban on the sale of new non-zero emission cars and vehicles by 2030, although certain plug-in hybrid vehicles will be allowed to be sold until 2035. Several major car brands, including Bentley, Ford, Opel, Vauxhall and Volvo, have made plans to switch to fully electric fleets in Europe by 2030.

Obviously, the large-scale adoption of zero-emission vehicles must have infrastructure, and the proposal also includes some legislation on the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles. These include requirements that, by 2025, member states install public charging points on major roads, with battery electric vehicles not exceeding 60 kilometers (37 miles) apart, and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles not exceeding 150 kilometers (93 miles) apart.

Implementation of the electrification strategy

EU Transport Commissioner Adina-Ioana Vălean stated that these measures will “create a market for sustainable alternative fuels and low-carbon technologies, while establishing appropriate infrastructure to ensure widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles and ships. This package will allow us to surpass Green transportation and logistics. This is an opportunity to make the EU a leading market for cutting-edge technology.”

The European Commission’s proposals need to be approved by the European Parliament before they can become law-there are reports that they may be resisted by member states. Bloomberg reported that French President Emmanuel Macron wants to allow PHEV sales to continue for a longer period of time. Macron recently met with executives from Renault Group and Stalantis. Prior to the announcement of the proposals, Andreas Scheuer, the German Transport Minister, warned that the auto industry may struggle to meet these proposals.

The emission targets are part of a broader set of measures aimed at achieving climate neutrality in the EU by 2050, including an overall reduction of 55% of net carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. The EU stated that the target is in line with the EU’s goals. The Paris Agreement limits the global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius.

See also:

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