EU agrees 2035 deadline for combustion engine ban
Low-volume manufacturers get a one-year extension, but otherwise the EV-only era beckons
If not the most shocking development given the prevailing political climate, confirmation of the EU’s commitment to banning the sale of new combustion engined cars from 2035 is obviously significant. "It's the start of a big transition of the European Union," said Jan Huitema, the parliament's main negotiator. You can say that again, Jan. The EU is the world’s biggest trading bloc, millions of new petrol and diesel cars are still being sold every single year, and 2035 - though it might sound like a time of flying cars and time machines - isn’t that far off. Babies born in 2022 will just be teenagers by the time new cars with an engine will effectively be illegal in Europe.
Of course, this being the EU, and the bill not being without its controversy or nuance, there are some concessions made within it. Chief among them - and the result of considerable lobbying by the ACEA - it has been agreed that niche manufacturers (i.e. those producing fewer than 10,000 cars a year) will be given an additional year to negotiate weaker CO2 targets, effectively allowing the production of supercars to extend beyond 2035.
That’s obviously a brief reprieve for the one percent (and we can only speculate on the sort of values that would be attached to last-ever products in that hectic 12 months) but for everyone else visiting this website the glimmer of hope is to be found in the non-binding element of the deal which leaves the door open for synthetic fuel use after 2035. Again a result of concerted lobbying, the EU agreed to consider a draft proposal on how cars that run on ‘CO2 neutral fuels’ could be sold after 2035. While there’s scepticism about scaling that solution, let’s not forget that Porsche ran its entire 2021 Mobil Supercup season on synthetic fuel, and is an enthusiastic investor in production tech. So fingers crossed, eh?
Furthermore, while plenty of manufacturers have committed to an ICE-free future, such a momentous decision has resulted in further calls for infrastructure development. Oliver Zipse, president of ACEA, the European carmakers lobby group, as well as BMW CEO, said: "We are now keen to see the framework conditions which are essential to meet this target reflected in EU policies.” He continued: "These include an abundance of renewable energy, a seamless private and public charging infrastructure network, and access to raw materials".
While the EU’s move has been welcomed by campaigners, there are already those opposed to the move. The ‘Havana effect’ has been suggested, where old cars will hang around for years and years because new EVs aren’t available or affordable. Which does seem a tad extreme, given the price of cars like the first Nissan Leaf now and the progress being made, but is a legitimate concern. “Today's deal slammed shut the door to new technological developments and put all the eggs in one basket. This is a mistake.” That was the view of Jens Gieseke, negotiator and lawmaker from the conservative European People’s Party.
Presuming the deal struck yesterday becomes law, there will be no time to waste for manufacturers selling in the EU - niche or otherwise. In addition to the 2035 ban, the agreement includes a commitment to reduce CO2 of new cars sold in 2030 by 50 per cent compared to 2021 - the existing target is 37.5 per cent. Tough times ahead, then, both for those who make combustion engines and those who are fond of them. Don’t be surprised if the goalposts shift again before 2035, either…
I guess everyone can feel the stench that these utility vehicles leave after them passing every day.
On each continental EU highway, since 2-3 years you can always see a perpetual train of trucks on the first lane. Regardless of hour. I think this generates the highest proportion of pollutants from all road traffic.
When the combustion engine came out, they didn't ban the horse. They didn't need to because the motor car was better in every way.
Clearly not the same for EVs vs combustion, otherwise measures such as bans wouldn't be needed.
There are other places (Chile dessert) where there are lithium salts in some lakes. And still there is a big env impact.
I fail to see how anyone on this forum can’t be moved by this, yes electric is faster, better for the environment and whatever else. But as enthusiasts, an internal combustion engine cannot be beaten by a battery, it just can’t. The smell, feeling, noise and how it makes you feel. That simply can’t be replicated by a dishwasher.
Standing on the Mulsanne and hearing a full field of Le Mans race cars fly past, watching 20+ DFV engined F1 cars fly into copse, or hearing a rally car’s turbo chatter approach, fly past disappear for miles into the woods. Or more simply, the noise a car makes as you accelerate through a tunnel? This won’t be replicated again in 20 years.
I hope there are other people out there that keep the combustion engine running for hundreds of years into the future, and don’t let such a wonderful thing die out.
I don’t know how anyone into cars, or on this website can be happy or pleased about this article.
When the combustion engine came out, they didn't ban the horse. They didn't need to because the motor car was better in every way.
Clearly not the same for EVs vs combustion, otherwise measures such as bans wouldn't be needed.
I fail to see how anyone on this forum can’t be moved by this, yes electric is faster, better for the environment and whatever else. But as enthusiasts, an internal combustion engine cannot be beaten by a battery, it just can’t. The smell, feeling, noise and how it makes you feel. That simply can’t be replicated by a dishwasher.
Standing on the Mulsanne and hearing a full field of Le Mans race cars fly past, watching 20+ DFV engined F1 cars fly into copse, or hearing a rally car’s turbo chatter approach, fly past disappear for miles into the woods. Or more simply, the noise a car makes as you accelerate through a tunnel? This won’t be replicated again in 20 years.
I hope there are other people out there that keep the combustion engine running for hundreds of years into the future, and don’t let such a wonderful thing die out.
I don’t know how anyone into cars, or on this website can be happy or pleased about this article.
My TVR will be 30 years old next year and I'll likely be dead by 2065 when the last ICE cars are the same age so there's nothing to worry about.
And let's remember that EVs are better in almost every way for 99% of driving.
I fail to see how anyone on this forum can’t be moved by this, yes electric is faster, better for the environment and whatever else. But as enthusiasts, an internal combustion engine cannot be beaten by a battery, it just can’t. The smell, feeling, noise and how it makes you feel. That simply can’t be replicated by a dishwasher.
Standing on the Mulsanne and hearing a full field of Le Mans race cars fly past, watching 20+ DFV engined F1 cars fly into copse, or hearing a rally car’s turbo chatter approach, fly past disappear for miles into the woods. Or more simply, the noise a car makes as you accelerate through a tunnel? This won’t be replicated again in 20 years.
I hope there are other people out there that keep the combustion engine running for hundreds of years into the future, and don’t let such a wonderful thing die out.
I don’t know how anyone into cars, or on this website can be happy or pleased about this article.
ks.The combustion engine didnt have infrastructure int he early days, EVs have a head start in that we have a massive electricity distribution network.
I see many EV's every day, they didnt appear overnight its been ten or more years, there wasnt an electricity grid 100 years ago
And people going on about the environmental angle, turn it in we know they arent perfect, I saw someone decrying the bicycle because of the manufacturing required to build one, at whch point you know people are sniffing too many marker pens. Nobody said EV's were perfect environmentally, but neither are ICE cars so its a crap standpoint as it just says
"I dont like EV's and havent got much, so the environmental angle will have to do"
The too expensive thing, well, guess what new ICE cars are expensive as well, if they were coming in now, if you cant afford an EV then you probably couldn't afford an ICE car either ! They will get cheaper as the market gets saturated, still a bit new at the moment but there will be a time when you can buy one for banger money.
I am no EV fan boy but people do talk some nonsense.
I fail to see how anyone on this forum can’t be moved by this, yes electric is faster, better for the environment and whatever else. But as enthusiasts, an internal combustion engine cannot be beaten by a battery, it just can’t. The smell, feeling, noise and how it makes you feel. That simply can’t be replicated by a dishwasher.
Standing on the Mulsanne and hearing a full field of Le Mans race cars fly past, watching 20+ DFV engined F1 cars fly into copse, or hearing a rally car’s turbo chatter approach, fly past disappear for miles into the woods. Or more simply, the noise a car makes as you accelerate through a tunnel? This won’t be replicated again in 20 years.
I hope there are other people out there that keep the combustion engine running for hundreds of years into the future, and don’t let such a wonderful thing die out.
I don’t know how anyone into cars, or on this website can be happy or pleased about this article.
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