The European Union (EU) has endorsed the death certificate for new thermal engine vehicles for 2035: MEPs and Member States reached an agreement on Thursday evening on an emblematic regulation for European climate objectives.
“Historic decision of the EU for the climate”, published on Twitter the French MEP Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe), president of the Environment committee of the European Parliament, after a few hours of negotiations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed a “key step” for the EU’s climate ambitions, which will “boost innovation and our industrial and technological leadership”.
The European automotive industry said it was “ready to take up the challenge” after this “unprecedented decision”, while calling on the EU to put in place the “conditions” necessary to achieve this objective, in particular the establishment a sufficient network of charging stations for electric vehicles.
The approved text, which is based on a proposal from the EU executive in July 2021, plans to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars in Europe to zero from 2035.
This amounts to the de facto cessation of sales of new petrol and diesel cars and light commercial vehicles in the EU on this date, as well as hybrids (petrol-electric), in favor of 100% electric vehicles.
While the car, the main mode of transport for Europeans, represents just under 15% of total CO2 emissions in the EU, the new regulations must contribute to achieving the continent’s climate objectives, in particular carbon neutrality in the EU. horizon 2050, an objective that Canada has also set itself.
This is the first agreement on a text of the European climate package (“Fit for 55”) intended to reduce the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. .
It also confirms the objective of reducing CO2 emissions for 2030 by 55% for new cars and 50% for new vans, compared to 2021.
Support workers
A derogation is granted to “niche” manufacturers or those producing less than 10,000 vehicles per year, allowing them to be equipped with a combustion engine until 2036. This clause, sometimes called the “Ferrari amendment”, will benefit in particular luxury brands.
The negotiators agreed to “launch a process to have in 2025, after precise assessment of financial needs, a dedicated Just Transition Fund for employees in the sector”, also indicated Pascal Canfin.
The creation of such a transition fund was called for by Parliament, to “ensure social support and training for equipment manufacturers who will be most affected by the transition to zero-emission mobility”.
The automotive industry directly or indirectly employs more than 13 million Europeans, or 7% of the EU job market, according to the European Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
A Commission proposal is also expected in 2023 to help accelerate the decarbonization of the fleets of large companies, said Mr. Canfin.
The price of electric cars
Under pressure from several countries including Germany, the text addresses the possibility of a green light in the future for alternative technologies such as synthetic fuels (e-fuels) or rechargeable hybrid engines if these allow achieve the goal of completely eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
Oliver Zipse, ACEA President and CEO of German automaker BMW, said Europe’s auto industry was “up to the challenge” but called on the EU to put in place the “essential conditions to achieve this goal”: “an abundance of renewable energy, a continuous network of private and public charging infrastructure, and access to raw materials”, he detailed in a press release.
Manufacturers are particularly concerned to see “the price of batteries increase for the first time in more than a decade”.
Carlos Tavares, managing director of the Stellantis group, born from the merger of PSA and Fiat-Chrysler, pointed out Thursday during the day the problem of the cost of these electric vehicles. “I don’t see today the middle class capable of buying electric cars at 30,000 euros,” he said, during a visit to a utility vehicle factory in Hordain (northern France). ).
The European Parliament and the Council (representing the Member States) will have to formally approve the agreement for it to enter into force.