EU-wide ban on new fossil fuel cars from 2035 – A good decision

From 2035 onwards, the EU Environment Council has recently agreed that new vehicles will only be allowed to be registered in the EU if they do not emit greenhouse gases while driving.
This is an important step in the right direction, especially since the EU has committed to reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and to becoming climate neutral by 2050. This is an ambitious goal that cannot be achieved without drastic reductions in the main emission sources of energy, industry, and transport.
And transportation is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. In 2019 alone, road traffic was responsible for 26% of all CO₂ emissions in the EU.  

E-Mobility must be affordable for everyone

The phasing out of combustion engines means a reduction in fossil fuel consumption and thus fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which is better for the climate. For the economy, however, it also means less dependence on foreign oil and natural gas supplies, which are susceptible to interruptions due to world events and geopolitical issues (as during the oil crisis of the 1970s and the recent termination of Russia’s gas supply to Europe).
This latest push towards electromobility from renewable energy will drive innovation, create new jobs, and above all serve climate action. Renewable energy sources are inexhaustible and abundantly available in the EU.

However, in order for this to succeed, policymakers must also establish the corresponding conditions.  A dense network of charging infrastructure that relies on renewable electricity from within the EU must be established to meet the growing demand.  
Mobility is an important achievement of humanity that enables us to travel to work or education, to visit family and friends, to travel, and to discover other countries and cultures. Therefore, e-mobility must be affordable for everyone. 

Increasing the pressure to take climate action

The automotive industry already possesses the technological know-how to secure its market position. By switching to e-mobility from renewable electricity, the industry will equip itself for the near future and free itself from dependence on finite resources.    
Certainly, the EU decision will have an even greater positive impact on the environment if large economies, such as the USA and China, follow and adopt similar measures. However, the EU has already achieved one important thing: increasing the pressure to take climate action.

  
The EU will review its plans regarding the ban on fossil fuel-powered vehicles in 2026. Nevertheless, we firmly believe that it is the right path.

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