[ad_1]
The European Parliament on Tuesday approved legislation that would ban the sale of new cars and vans that emit CO2 by 2035, meaning vehicles still equipped with internal combustion engines will be effectively banned from sale throughout the European Union.
The rules call for 55% less CO2 emissions from new cars by 2030 versus 2021 levels as a provisional goal, and ultimately a target of 100% by 2035. For vans, that would be a reduction of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2035 .
The proposal to reduce CO2 from light vehicles by 100% by 2035, which is part of an overarching plan for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050, was first made by the European Commission in 2021.
The European Council must now formally endorse the measure before it becomes law.
Unlike similar plans in the states of California and New York, which classify certain plug-in hybrids as zero-emission vehicles, the EU’s target of pushing fully electric vehicles includes battery and hydrogen-electric vehicles.
However, there is potential for some residual life in the EU for internal combustion engines in light vehicles. As the rules focus on CO2 emissions, not powertrain type, there could be loopholes for internal combustion vehicles running on carbon neutral fuels such as hydrogen or synthetic fuels, a move Germany is seeking.
In addition, automakers producing fewer than 10,000 vehicles per year will be able to negotiate weaker targets until they must meet the 100% target by 2036. And any automakers producing fewer than 1,000 vehicles per year will be exempt altogether.
This target creates clarity for the car industry and stimulates innovation and investment for car manufacturers,” Dutch politician Jan Huitema said in a statement. “Buying and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers and a second-hand market will emerge more quickly.
[ad_2]
Source link
