The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement confirming zero-emissions targets for new vans and cars by 2035.
According to the deal arrived at by E.U. negotiators with member states, the region will achieve zero-emission road mobility by 2035, according to an Oct. 28 press release. The deal seeks to reduce CO2 emissions generated by new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 100 percent by 2035 when compared to the 2021 levels.
“With these targets, we create clarity for the car industry and stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers. In addition, purchasing and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers,” said rapporteur Jan Huitema, a member of the political group Renew Europe Group, according to the release.
The deal is the first one of the “Fit for 55” package which is a set of proposals aimed at enabling the E.U. to achieve a 55 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The European Commission will publish a report to evaluate progress towards zero-emission road mobility by 2025 and every two years subsequently.
The E.U. will channel funding toward the transition to zero-emission vehicles and related technologies. By the end of 2024, existing rules for labeling fuel economy and CO2 emissions will be reviewed.
The deal now requires the formal approval from the European Council and Parliament before it comes into effect.
There are concerns about the E.U.’s insistence on the speedy adoption of non-fossil fuel vehicles. In an interview with CNBC, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares called the E.U. plan to ban the sale of new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars and vans by 2035 a “purely dogmatic decision.”
“I think there is the possibility—and the need—for a more pragmatic approach to manage the transition.”
US Bans, EV Pollution
The E.U. decision follows similar moves in the United States. In August, California announced that it would ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.
In September, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that all new sales of pickups, SUVs, and cars in the state must be plug-in hybrids or fully electric beginning 2035.
The push to replace fossil-fuel vehicles with electric ones by claiming that it is more environmentally friendly has come under criticism in recent times.
A 2019 study by the Ifo Institute in Germany found that an electric Tesla Model 3 emitted 11 percent to 28 percent more CO2 over its lifespan when compared to a diesel Mercedes C220D.
The electric batteries used in the EVs require energy intensive-mining and processing due to which they generate two times the CO2 emissions when compared to manufacturing internal combustion engines.
As demand for EVs grows, so will the need for batteries. This means more mining of raw materials like cobalt, lithium, and nickel, thus posing more harm to land, water, and wildlife.
Reporting by The Epoch Times.
