EU confirms easing of 2035 ban on petrol and diesel cars

The EU yesterday confirmed it wanted to water down its 2035 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

- Lisa O'Carroll

Wopke Hoekstra, a climate commissioner, described the move as a “win-win” for consumers and industry, keeping Europe on course for electrification with a series of carrot and stick measures.

Manufacturers had been obliged to ensure that 100% of car and van production was zero emissions from 2035. But the European commission is proposing cutting this proportion to 90%, enabling the continued manufacture of plugin hybrid electric vehicles, or even combustion engines beyond that date.

The output that is not carbon neutral will need to be matched by green measures, including the use of biofuels in nonelectric vehicles.

"This will allow for plugin hybrids, range extenders, mild hybrids, and internal combustion engine vehicles to still play a role beyond 2035, in addition to full electric and hydrogen vehicles," the commission said.