EU confirms ICE ban from 2035, but opens window for synthetic fuels

EU governments have confirmed the intended ban of internal combustion engine cars and vans from 2035. The deal reached by EU Environment Ministers makes the switch to zero-emissions vehicles “a foregone conclusion” after the European Parliament voted for it last month.

European clean transport lobby group Transport & Environment (T&E) describes the agreement as “game over for the internal combustion engine in Europe, which breaks the hold of the oil industry over transport and gives Europe a fighting chance of decarbonising by 2050.”

Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and emobility at T&E, said, “Transport is the largest source of emissions and cars are the biggest part of the problem. This is a huge step forward for the climate fight, but also for air pollution and making electric vehicles more affordable.”

T&E however called on MEPs to shut down any possibility of a loophole for synthetic fuels. While ministers agreed that manufacturers should not receive credits towards their CO2 targets for cars powered by e-fuels, they said the Commission should submit new proposals to allow their use in the future.

Cars powered by e-fuels, says T&E, emit significantly more CO2 than battery electric vehicles over their lifecycle and pump out as much toxic NOx emissions as petrol vehicles.

Julia Poliscanova concluded, “The end of the combustion engine is great news for the climate. But new proposals on fuels are a diversion. Let’s not waste any more time on e-fuels for cars and vans and instead focus on rolling out charging, re-skilling workers for the electric transition and responsibly sourcing material for batteries.”