In brief
In a significant change to its environmental policy, the EU has scaled back its original ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales by 2035, allowing for 10% of sales to be conventional vehicles or hybrids. This decision comes after heavy lobbying from car manufacturers, notably in Germany, who argued that the current market demand for electric vehicles is insufficient to support a total ban. The remaining 90% of new cars sold will still need to be zero-emission, and manufacturers will be held accountable for the emissions of the permitted vehicles through the usage of biofuels and low-carbon materials.
The European Union has watered down its plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.
Current rules state that new vehicles sold from that date should be zero emission, but carmakers, particularly in Germany, have lobbied heavily for concessions.
Under the European Commission's new plan, 90% of new cars sold from 2035 would have to be zero-emission, rather than 100%.
According to the European carmakers association, ACEA, market demand for electric cars is currently too low, and without a change to the rules, manufacturers would risk multi-billion euro penalties.
The remaining 10% could be made up of conventional petrol or diesel cars, along with hybrids.
Carmakers will be expected to compensate for the extra emissions created by these vehicles by using biofuels and so-called e-fuels, which are synthesised from captured carbon dioxide.
They will also be expected to use low-carbon steel made in the European Union in the vehicles they produce.
Opponents of the move have warned that it risks undermining the transition towards electric vehicles and leaving Europe exposed in the face of foreign competition.
The green transport group T&E has warned that the UK should not follow the EU's lead by weakening its own plans to phase out the sale of conventional cars under the Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate.
The UK must stand firm. Our ZEV mandate is already driving jobs, investment and innovation into the UK. As major exporters we cannot compete unless we innovate, and global markets are going electric fast, said T&E UK's director Anna Krajinska.
