The European Parliament and European Council have reached an agreement that will see new combustion engine cars and vans by phased out by 2035.The new legislation has set a target of a 55% CO2 emission reduction for new cars and 50% for new vans by 2030 compared to 2021 levels and for a 100% reduction by 2035.
Dutch MEP Jan Huitema, the Parliament's rapporteur, commented, “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."
However, with what is effectively a slowing of the combustion engine phase out programme, there has been some criticism of the announcement. Greenpeace EU transport campaigner Lorelei Limousin said, "The EU is taking the scenic route, and that route ends in disaster. A European 2035 phase-out of fossil fuel-burning cars is not quick enough: new cars with internal combustion engines should be banned by 2028 at the latest.