On Tuesday, the European Union’s lawmakers passed a legislation that imposes an expiry date on the sale of new cars equipped with combustion engines. This effectively prohibits the sale of gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles in automobile showrooms from 2035 onwards.
The new law is part of its ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, which aims to incentivize automobile manufacturers to increase the production of electric vehicles. The law mandates that automakers must eliminate 100 percent of carbon emissions in new cars sold in the European Union by 2035, thereby prohibiting the sale of new cars fueled by non-renewable energy sources. In response to this legislation, many automakers have already begun overhauling their product offerings to include a greater number of battery-powered vehicles.
The European union has now joined the ranks of the largest automobile markets to mandate a focus on battery-powered engines for cars, although it’s not the only one. Last year, California passed similar legislation, which will ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars by 2035, and New York quickly followed suit. Advocates of the law believe it will create certainty for the auto industry by prompting governments to invest in the infrastructure needed for battery-powered vehicles, such as expanding the charging network.
However, opponents argue that implementing a ban is counterproductive and poses a threat to the 13 million jobs in the European Union connected to the automotive sector. Ford Motor’s recent announcement that it will cut approximately 11% of its workforce in Europe over the next three years as part of its shift to electric vehicle production illustrates this point.
European leaders who are promoting action on climate change have rejected that claim, asserting that the bloc must pivot more rapidly to remain competitive in an industry that is being increasingly dominated by China, and that the legislation can facilitate this process.
The industrial revolution is happening whether we like it or not. We can choose to lead it. Or we can leave it to other parts of the world to lead it, and then all we can do is follow.
Frans Timmermans – European Union’s top climate official
Starting in 2030, the law imposes limitations on carbon emissions for new cars that aim to reduce them based on 2021 levels. Companies producing fewer than 1,000 vehicles are exempted. It’s important to note that the law only applies to newly produced vehicles and not to already existing fossil fuel-powered cars and vans on the road. The legislation does not cover heavy trucks and buses but they will be subject to a different set of rules that will gradually reduce carbon emissions without an outright ban on fossil fuels.
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