EU "softens" target for internal combustion cars - Proposes 90% emission reduction by 2035
The European Commission has proposed to relax a planned ban on cars with internal combustion engines from 2035, allowing some non-electric vehicles to continue to be sold, following pressure from Germany, Italy and the auto industry.
The EU executive appears to have responded to manufacturers' demands to continue selling hybrid and fuel-powered vehicles, at a time when the European industry is struggling to compete with Tesla and Chinese electric car makers.
The European Commissioner for Climate, Climate Neutrality and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, addressed the European Parliament trying to reassure lawmakers that the bloc is still taking its environmental commitments seriously.
“We are in the midst of a major transition. China is competing aggressively in key technologies, including electric vehicles and batteries, while the US continues to lag behind us in productivity and innovation in several sectors. With such fierce competition, the European Union must definitely step up,” he said.
Current EU rules require all new cars and vans to be zero-emissions by 2035. Under the new proposal, the target would change to a 90% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to 2021 levels, instead of 100%.
Vehicle manufacturers will have to offset the remaining emissions through the use of low-carbon steel produced in the EU and synthetic fuels or non-food biofuels, such as agricultural waste and used cooking oil.
The plan also gives car manufacturers a three-year period, from 2030 to 2032, to reduce CO₂ emissions from cars by 55% compared to 2021, while the target for vans in 2030 would be eased to 40% from 50%.
The changes, which require approval by EU governments and the European Parliament, reflect the bloc's biggest retreat from its green policies adopted over the past five years. Meanwhile, the electric vehicle industry warned that easing emissions targets could hurt investment and leave Europe further behind China in the transition to cleaner transport.
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