Europe approves 2035 new gas car sales ban

Electric vehicles remain a key component of ongoing efforts to reduce emissions around the world as political powers grapple with climate change. In recent weeks, Europe has followed in the footsteps of U.S. states California and New York in banning the sale of cars with internal combustion engines, as the latest in efforts to accelerate the electrification of the auto industry. 

Above: A Tesla Model Y (Image: Casey Murphy / EVANNEX).

Europe’s Parliament passed a law banning the sale of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2035, according to a report from Reuters. The ruling requires all automakers from 2035 and on to reduce emissions by 100 percent on transportation by 2035 in European Union countries, effectively ruling out gas vehicles from consumer options.

Additionally, the ruling includes a milestone of reaching a 55-percent drop in emissions by 2030 from levels in 2021, expanding upon a previous target of 37.5 percent. In addition to light-duty cars, the rule includes vans, which must meet a goal of a 50-percent emissions reduction by 2030, along with the full 2035 reduction of 100 percent.

While the plan isn’t yet finalized or fully approved, it’s expected to gain final approval in March and has already been ok’d by automakers in meetings last October, according to the report.

Parliament’s lead rule negotiator Jan Huitema suggested that consumers still need more EV options for mainstream adoption to occur, especially those that are affordable enough for consumers.

"The operating costs of an electric vehicle are already lower than the operating costs of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine," Huitema said.

Some EU countries expressed concerns about the legislation as early as it was proposed last July. The current iteration of the deal includes some flexibility surrounding these concerns, especially including small automakers that produce under 10,000 vehicles per year which can negotiate more attainable targets until 2036.

The news comes amidst increasing competition from domestic and Chinese automakers in Europe, especially as the bloc of countries looks to cut out all emissions in a little over a decade. Volkswagen plans to produce only EVs in Europe by 2033, according to a statement from CEO Thomas Schaefer last year.

It also comes as Tesla has reached multiple milestones as a dominant force in Europe’s emerging EV sector, with the Model Y landing the best-selling car spot on the continent for the last two months. Additionally, Tesla’s sales in Germany, a key market in Europe, jumped by over 900 percent year over year in January.

===