The European Commission has watered down its plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.Current rules state that new vehicles sold from that date should be “zero emission”, but carmakers, particularly in Germany, have lobbied heavily for concessions.Under the European Commission’s new plan, 90% of new cars sold from 2035 would have to be zero-emission, rather than 100%.According to the European carmakers association, ACEA, market demand for electric cars is currently too low, and without a change to the rules, manufacturers would risk “multi-billion euro” penalties.The remaining 10% could be made up of conventional petrol or diesel cars, along with hybrids.Carmakers will be expected to use low-carbon steel made in the EU in the vehicles they produce.The Commission also expects an increase in the use of biofuels and so-called e-fuels, which are synthesised from captured carbon dioxide, to compensate for the extra emissions created by petrol and diesel vehicles. Opponents of the move have warned that it risks undermining the transition towards electric vehicles and leaving the EU exposed in the face of foreign competition.The green transport group T&E has warned that the UK should not follow the EU’s lead by weakening its own plans to phase out the sale of conventional cars under the Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate.”The UK must stand firm. Our ZEV mandate is already driving jobs, investment and innovation into the UK. As major exporters we cannot compete unless we innovate, and global markets are going electric fast,” said T&E UK’s director Anna Krajinska.Ahead of the announcement, Sigrid de Vries, director general at ACEA, said that “flexibility” for manufacturers was “urgent”.”2030 is around the corner, and market demand is too low to av …
