The European Union now has a “clear objective: from 2035 onwards, only zero-emission cars can be sold or placed on the market in the EU”. This was stated by Dutch MEP of Renew Europe Jan Huitema, Parliament’s rapporteur on the file, illustrating at a press conference in Brussels the contents of the provisional political agreement reached yesterday evening in trilogue by the Council and the European Parliament on stricter standards in terms of emissions of carbon dioxide for new cars and vans. The aim is to move towards zero-emission mobility. With a view to formal adoption (the text should go “soon” to the vote in plenary, according to Huitema) the co-legislators agreed on a target to reduce CO2 emissions of 55% for new cars and 50% for new vans by 2030 compared to 2021 levels and a 100% CO2 reduction target for both new cars and vans by 2035. Huitema clarified that “the goal of this law is not to ban the internal combustion engine “, but to ensure that” from 2035 only zero-emission cars can be put on the market “. And zero emissions “means no carbon dioxide, no nitrogen oxides,” he added. In practice, if manufacturers are able to build a zero-emission internal combustion engine, there is no obstacle to it being fitted to cars placed on the market after 2035. “We are at the beginning of a great transition in Europe”, which concerns “not only cars but also other means of transport: it is a milestone” in the path towards climate neutrality, added the Dutchman. The regulatory incentive mechanism, explains the Parliament, will be maintained for zero- and low-emission vehicles (Zlev) until 2030. Under the mechanism, if a manufacturer meets certain benchmarks for the sale of zero- and low-emission vehicles, he can be rewarded with less stringent CO2 targets. The co-legislators have decided to raise the benchmark to 25% for cars and 17% for vans until 2030.The agreement includes a wording on CO2-neutral fuels under which, after consultation with stakeholders, the Commission will present a proposal for the registration of vehicles running exclusively on fuels of this type after 2035 in accordance with EU law, outside the scope of fleet rules and in compliance with the EU climate neutrality objective. objectives taking into account technological developments, including with regard to plug-in hybrid technologies and the importance of a viable and social transition fair mind towards zero emissions. In addition, the agreement provides for a strengthening of other regulatory provisions: for example by reducing the ceiling of emission credits that producers can receive for eco-innovations that verifiably reduce CO2 emissions on the road, up to a maximum of 4. g / km per year from 2030 to 2034 (currently set at 7 g / km per year). The Commission will develop a common EU methodology, by 2025, to assess the entire life cycle of CO2 emissions from cars and vans placed on the EU market, as well as for the fuel and energy consumed by these vehicles. Based on this methodology, manufacturers can, on a voluntary basis, report to the Commission on the life cycle emissions of new vehicles they place on the market. The agreement maintains a derogation for small volume producers until the end of 2035. The text of the interim political agreement will soon be made available. The proposal revises the existing rules, amended in 2019. The interim political agreement reached in the negotiations of the trilogue will now have to be formally adopted by the Council and Parliament. According to the regulation, each manufacturer must ensure that the average CO2 emissions of its fleet of newly registered vehicles in a calendar year do not exceed its specific annual emissions target. Manufacturers can continue to place vehicles with combustion engines on the market, but if they exceed their emissions target in a given year, they have to pay a premium of € 95 per gram of CO2 / km above the target per vehicle registered. As a result, with the new targets agreed, zero-emission vehicles will eventually become cheaper than fossil fuel-powered vehicles. develop an infrastructure to allow drivers to recharge their vehicles in the Member States. The proposed revision of Co2 emissions performance standards for cars and vans is part of the Fit for 55 package. Presented by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, the package aims to allow the EU to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to achieve climate neutrality in 2050. Parliament adopted a series of amendments to the Commission proposal at its plenary session on 8 June. On 29 June, the Environment Council reached a general approach on the proposal.
