In a vote held on 14 February 2023. The European Parliament voted to ban the sale of new electric cars, which is part of the Fit for 55 package. The proposed changes are driven by the EU’s goal to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030, with the final step being to achieve climate neutrality in 2050.
The ambitious targets dictated by climate change have stirred up a lot of controversy and extreme emotions, the ban will certainly affect society, both consumers and car companies.
The European Parliament responds: “it will still be possible to drive current cars. The new rules do not mean that by 2035 all cars on the road will not emit CO2. If we buy a new car now, we can drive it until the end of its useful life. But as the average lifespan of a car is 15 years, we need to start in 2035 so that by 2050 all cars are CO2 neutral.”
In turn, MEP-rapporteur Jan Huitema argues that: “this regulation encourages the production of zero- and low-emission vehicles. It includes an ambitious revision of the 2030 targets and a zero-emission target for 2035, which is key to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. These targets provide clarity for the automotive industry and stimulate innovation and investment for car manufacturers. Buying and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers, the market for used cars will emerge faster.”
However, not everyone is convinced by the EP’s line of argumentation, some European governments have serious doubts about the speed of the changes being introduced, and the approval of the ban by the Council of the European Union is also needed for it to come into force.
