Strasbourg (France) (AFP) – The European Union will ban new sales of fossil fuel cars from 2035, after MEPs approved a new law on Tuesday, while Brussels also sets out plans to cut carbon emissions from trucks and buses.
Issued on: 02/14/2023 – 14:06Modified: 02/14/2023 – 16:17
3 minutes
EU member states have already approved legislation on cars and vans, and will now formally approve it into law, but there is still a lot of controversy over the proposed measures against larger freight and passenger vehicles.
Supporters of the automobile bill – which was passed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg – say it gives European automakers a clear time frame to shift production to electric cars and will stimulate investment to face competition from China and the United States.
This, in turn, will also support the EU’s ambitious plan to become a “climate neutral” economy by 2050, with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
EU Vice President Frans Timmermans warned members of the European Parliament, saying: “Let me remind you that between last year and the end of this year, China will introduce 80 models of electric cars to the international market.”
“These are good cars. These cars are going to be more and more affordable, and we need to compete with that. We don’t want to give up this essential industry to outsiders.”
But opponents say neither the industry nor many motorists are prepared for such a dramatic end to internal-combustion-engined vehicles — and that hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk.
“Our proposal is… to let the market decide which technology is best to achieve our goals,” said European Parliament member Jens Gieseke, a member of the center-right European People’s Party.
Arguments made by Green and Socialist MEPs that electric cars are cheaper to run have become “null and void” due to the crisis of rising energy costs, Žižecki declared.
“In Germany, 600,000 people work in ICE production, and these jobs are at risk,” he announced.
The EPP group warned of what it said would be a “Havana effect” – where Europeans continue to drive old fuel-burning cars after new sales were banned because they cannot find or afford an electric car.
Opponents also say car batteries are produced abroad by Europe’s competitors such as the United States, but Timmermans said that thanks to EU-backed investment, European production would increase.
Green MEPs stressed the importance of the ban in reducing emissions and pollution.
Victory for the planet?
“Today’s vote is a historic vote for environmental transformation… It is a victory for our planet and our people,” said Karima Deli, Chair of the Transport Committee.
Separately from the vote in Parliament, the EU’s executive body – the European Commission – revealed its plans to reduce emissions from heavy vehicles.
This text may change during a lengthy negotiation process with Parliament and EU member states.
It proposes a timetable to reduce emissions of trucks weighing more than five tons and long-distance buses (more than 7.5 tons), which have similar engines, by tightening emissions standards from 2030.
Starting in January 2030, new truck emissions must be reduced by at least 45 percent compared to 2019 levels. These emissions must then be reduced by 65 percent from January 2035 and by 90 percent from January 2040 – again compared to 2019 levels.
City buses must be zero emissions from 2030, but the European Commission has said manufacturers can choose their own technology to achieve this, citing electric motors, hydrogen engines and hydrogen fuel cells.
Cars currently account for about 15 percent of total CO2 emissions in the European Union. Trucks, city buses and long-distance buses account for another six percent.
US green subsidies
Auto giant Germany and conservative members of the European Parliament were skeptical about the new rules, fearing the burden of retooling their factories and retraining workers while global rivals have more flexible targets.
Since the law began its journey through the EU legislative process, the United States has unveiled a massive plan to support the green transformation of its industry through government grants.
This has led to fears in Europe that its rival, the United States, will withdraw investments and jobs in the production of electric cars and batteries.
Meanwhile, China – the world’s largest car market – wants at least half of new cars to be electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered by 2035.
© 2023 Agence France-Presse
