EU targets zero-emission cars by 2035

Brussels – The European Commission is proposing that new cars sold in the bloc should be emissions-free by 2035, effectively banning sales of cars with gasoline and diesel engines.

The proposal is part of the Commission’s climate package, which seeks a 55% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels ahead of transition to ‘net-zero emissions' by 2050. 

Unveiled 14 July, the package of proposals covers a broad range of policies related to energy, land use, transportation and taxation. 

Within the transportation sector, it calls for stronger CO2 emissions standards for cars and vans to accelerate the transition to zero-emission mobility.

Based on the proposal, the EU will require average emissions of new cars to come down 55% by 2030 and 100% by 2035 compared to 2021 levels. 

As a result, all new cars registered as of 2035 will be zero-emission, the Commission said.

Furthermore, member states are required to expand charging capacity in line with zero-emission car sales, and to install charging and fuelling points at regular intervals on major highways.

The fuelling points, said the commission, should be every 60 kilometres for electric charging and every 150 kilometres for hydrogen refuelling.