With the adopted measures, the European Union aims to chart the course for the transition to “zero net emissions” of greenhouse gases on the 2050 horizon
With 339 votes in favour, 249 against and 24 abstentions, MEPs voted in favor of imposing an effective ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars on the European market from 2035, in a gesture signaling defeat for efforts to slow down the widespread transition to electric vehicles in the EU. The decision to formally adopt this proposal does not mean that it is the final decision, as it has yet to be agreed upon with the decision adopted by national governments in the Council.
For the time being, Parliament’s plenary has ratified the decision taken in the Environment Committee, which supports the European Commission’s proposal to set the CO2 emission standards for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles that are part of the “Ready for 55” legislative package, which predicts that by 2030 climate-effect emissions will be reduced by 55% compared to those measured in 1990. It is estimated that cars are responsible for 12% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions.
From 2035, the sale of vehicles with a combustion engine, both passenger cars and vans, will be prohibited. In addition to diesel and petrol, cars that currently bear the DGT ECO emblem, such as hybrids and plug-in hybrids, will no longer be available at dealerships. Bio- and synthetic fuels are not banned, but their use for freight and aviation is restricted.
Petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in cars can continue to be purchased as the ban is in effect for the year 2035. They may continue to circulate after that date as the average lifespan of a car is estimated to be around 15 years, so by 2050, cars with an internal combustion engine should already be withdrawn from traffic.
The next step is for the Member States to give their approval in the Council. The proposal includes the interim target to reduce polluting emissions from new cars and vans by 55% by 2030 and to zero five years later.
The text, approved in a stormy session last Wednesday, reflecting the tensions in the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, represents Parliament’s position to negotiate with Member States and states that a zero-emissions situation must be achieved in order to new vehicle registered in the EU in 2035, including cars and vans, but no trucks yet.
With regard to the intermediate targets, Parliament supports maintaining the target of reducing emissions from new utility fleets by 15% by 2025 compared to the situation measured last year, 55% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. Vans, taking into account related to certain economic activities other than mere mobility, will have a longer period of time.
Dutch Liberal Commissioner Jan Huitema, who has been the rapporteur on the text, said he was pleased with the adoption of a text that he considers “an ambitious revision of CO2 reduction standards as a crucial part of achieving our climate neutrality targets by 2050.” “With these standards, we create clarity for the car industry and can stimulate innovation and investment for car manufacturers. In addition, buying and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for European consumers.”
The regulation only applies to new cars. Petrol and diesel vehicles will continue to operate in the EU after 2035. The proposed Regulation does not prevent already registered vehicles from being bought and sold on the second-hand market.
If passed, Europe will be the first major market in the world to change the automotive standard, well ahead of China and the United States, although Norway has already set a 2025 deadline for a ban on diesel engine sales. incineration and in Israel they put it in 2030.
Lawmakers expect the prices of electric cars, which are now much higher than thermal cars, will have to fall as they are mass-produced, reducing the cost of batteries. The Stellantis group, one of the largest manufacturers in the world, had predicted that the price of the two types of motorization could be the same between 2025 and 2030, but since then the costs of many materials, including semiconductors, have skyrocketed and those predictions may vary. . Leading European analysts estimate that electric cars will remain expensive for a significant period of time, but on the other hand, the price of thermal cars should rise with increasing fiscal pressure from governments, so the situation could have an unexpected effect on the second-hand market. .
What the MEPs have approved is the negotiating position of the European Parliament. European governments will propose theirs in two councils of energy and environment ministers to be held in Luxembourg at the end of this month. When the Council’s position is known, a so-called three-way dialogue will start, in which the two institutions and the European Commission participate in order to arrive at a position that is acceptable to both. Sometimes these ‘trilogues’ are slow and time consuming and in this case the first question will be whether the countries agree, taking into account the great difference in the weight of the car industry. If the countries rush to decide what their common position is, the agreement with Parliament can be speeded up.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
