The proposed ban on combustion-powered vehicles has now been accepted by all of the necessary institutions.
This ban will prevent the sale of new gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Low-volume automakers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini will have an additional year to electrify their lineup.
The proposed European ban on the sale of new vehicles powered by combustion engines after 2035 has now been made official with the approval of all of the required institutions.
This deal, aimed at reducing the European Union’s carbon footprint, also includes more stringent targets that will have to be met by automakers in 2030.
Indeed, new vehicles sold at the start of the next decade will have to emit 55% less CO2 than the vehicles sold in 2021. The previous target for this same period was a reduction of 37,5%.
Unlike most proposals that call for a ban on gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, this deal also includes hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
This means that only fully electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles will be legal for sale in the European Union in a little over thirteen years.
At the insistence of some member states, a provision for carbon-neutral fuels has also been included in the ban, making it possible for automakers such as Porsche to continue developing this technology.
Since a complete transition to electric power will require massive investments from automakers in both money and development time, low-volume automakers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini have been accorded a one-year extension for the sale of vehicles equipped with an engine.
The deal’s supporters claim this will quicken the industry’s shift to electric propulsion and they believe more and more affordable EVs will be added over time in order to make it possible for every car buyer to find an electric vehicle in their price range.
Supporting this idea, Volkswagen, Ford, Stellantis, Jaguar, and Bentley have all committed to phasing out their combustion-powered vehicles before the deadline.
On the other hand, opponents to the plan fear the supply of affordable EVs will not be sufficient to meet the demand, which will lead people to hang on to their older cars. They say this could actually cause more pollution than if more efficient gasoline-powered vehicles continue to be sold.
Europe is not the only place where combustion engines will not be welcome after 2035 since California recently passed a similar ban, which is expected to be followed by 15 other US states soon.
Source: Automotive News
