It had been rumored for a long time. In recent weeks it had gained strength. And since Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party, spoke, it was already an open secret. The European Commission proposes to reverse and opens the door to combustion engines from 2035.
It’s a really small door.
What did we have? A prohibition that had been qualified. The European Union planned ban the sale of all cars with combustion enginesregardless of whether they were plug-in hybrids, extended range electric or electric hybrids. There was barely a crack left open for manufacturers who make ridiculously short runs.
Why does an electric car have less autonomy than advertised?
Later, Europe opened the door somewhat. A small slit. With permission to make cars that run on andfuelthe European Union allowed combustion cars to be produced as long as they did not emit carbon emissions.
This point was already emphasized since the combustion of all fuel produces emissions of NOx or fine particles, highly harmful to humans. In the first draft it only talked about being “emission neutral”. With the efuel There was already talk of “carbon neutral” because, supposedly, during the production of synthetic fuel the same or greater amount of CO2 is captured than that produced by cars.
What do we have now? Some recalculated objectives. And if in 2035 the aim was to reduce carbon emissions by 100%, the goal now is to do so by 90%. That is, all types of cars with combustion engines can be sold, even if the emissions expelled exceed the maximum 10% that will be allowed, taking the year 2021 as a reference.
Because? Because what is measured is the average emissions of the fleet, not of a specific car. That is, when presented to regulators, all cars sold by a manufacturer are taken into account. From there, its emissions volume is added and the average per vehicle is taken. This average has to be just 10% of the 2021 reference.
That leaves the limit to be met in 2035. about 11 gr km/of CO2. Therefore, if a car sold emits 100 gr/km of CO2, it will need nine other electric cars to be sold (0 gr/km of CO2) to offset that car and avoid fines. Everything indicates, therefore, that electric cars will continue to be essential and the best-selling type of vehicle.
Aces up your sleeve. The European Commission has also confirmed that it opens the door to a new category of vehicles. It is known as eCar, a small electric car made in Europe for which fiscal facilities are expected and which would add additional emissions credits, according to The Automotive Tribune.
In addition, the emissions limit proposed for 2030 that required emissions to be reduced by 50% compared to 93.6 gr/km of CO2 will be left until 2032. The procedure is the same as what happened in 2025. Instead of applying the fines this year, a temporary period was opened until 2027 so that the manufacturer could comply. At this point, the average emissions of the fleet sold between 2025 and 2027 is calculated. The objectives not met in 2025 have to be compensated in the coming two years.
A pressure cooker. In recent months, the European Commission had become a pressure cooker where manufacturers and countries pressured to recalculate the 2035 objectives.
From ACEA and on your own, manufacturers have been around for a long time pushing for emissions standards to be relaxed. The industry is in a complicated situation, with some of its large automobile groups, like Volkswagen, applying severe adjustments. Especially the German manufacturers are the ones that have put the most pressure to achieve these changes.
On the other hand, the countries of the European Union have been divided in two. Six countries led by Italy They had created a common front to the point of sending a letter begging Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, to reverse the proposed objectives. Germany has also been one of the countries that has put the most pressure but did not sign this letter. Spain, however, It has been together with France one of the countries that has put more pressure to maintain the reduction of 100% CO2 emissions in 2035.
Yes, but. It must be taken into account that all this is still a proposal from the European Commission. Of course, and looking at the latest movements, everything indicates that the changes will end up being applied in their entirety or a large part of them. However, this proposal must be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Member States (the Council of the EU) to be finally approved.
Photo | European Commission and Wassim Choak
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