The European Union had been gearing up to pass legislation banning the sale of gasoline-powered cars and vans to reduce CO2 emissions by 2035, however due to objections coming from Germany, the vote was delayed. Germany had previously been in favor of the legislation; however they expressed concerns that cars equipped with engines designed to run on carbon-neutral e-fuels such as those developed by Aramco, Formula 1, and Porsche may not be allowed for sale after 2035. This legislation calls for a 55% reduction of CO2 emissions from new passenger cars and a 50% reduction from vans by 2030 relative to the 2021 levels, eventually reaching a 100% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2035. This article will look into why the EU has delayed the vote on this ban and why Germany expressed their objections.
The decision to delay the vote on the ban of gas cars sales in the EU after Germany objected has been a cause of much debate in recent weeks. The implications of the delay are yet to be seen, though it appears clear that the shift from petrol and diesel cars to electric cars may be slower than expected. Whatever the outcome, it is clear that the German objection has been an influential factor in the EU’s decision to postpone the vote.