Environmental experts have voiced their opposition to the European Commission’s recent proposal to permit e-combustion engine cars on European roads beyond 2035, which would hinder the region’s transition to electric cars.
After Germany pushed for a complete ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2035, the commission is looking to devise a compromise to allow cars to run on the so-called carbon-neutral fuels. However, environmentalists said that the technology for making e-fuels was still too early to be widely used.
Major carmakers Germany and Italy joined the campaign to change the ban’s original proposal, which would have completely prohibited the sale of fossil-fuel-powered cars by 2035. Critics said that the commission’s proposal is another example of how the European Union is only delaying the implementation of climate change measures.
An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report this week urged governments to take immediate action to cut greenhouse gas emissions to avoid dangerous levels of climate change.
A study conducted by a non-government organization earlier revealed that the production and use of e-fuels would not be able to meet the needs of Europe’s car manufacturers by 2035. This is because the technology for making these fuels is still relatively new, and their development will increase greenhouse gas emissions.
The proposal came amid criticism against the Irish government for reducing electric vehicle purchase grants. The maximum grant that individuals can receive for this purpose will be lowered from €5,000 to €3,500 from July 1. Since 2011, the program has assisted over 40,000 electronic car purchases.
Critics have labeled the decision as “recklessly irresponsible and premature” in the face of the climate crisis. In addition, the move is expected to lead to more people buying internal combustion engine vehicles in the coming years, perpetuating negative impacts on human and planetary health.