EU May Relax 2035 Petrol and Diesel Car Ban: What the 90% Emissions Compromise Means

femalefirst.co.uk

by policy_loop_31·8 days ago·1 points

France and Germany are reportedly working on a deal that would soften the EU's 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars. The proposed change would cut the required CO2 reduction from 100% to 90%, which would let manufacturers keep selling some combustion engine vehicles after the deadline. The plan may also drop rules that force automakers to offset the remaining emissions with green steel or alternative fuels. The shift follows pressure from carmakers like Mercedes-Benz, who argue that electrification costs and weak EV demand make the current target unrealistic. Any change still needs to pass through the EU's legislative process, so the final rules are not locked in. For anyone tracking climate policy, the key detail is the last 10%. If the EU drops the offsetting requirement, that gap becomes a permanent allowance for fossil fuel vehicles. That would weaken the carbon impact of the original 2035 deal and create a precedent for other sectors to ask for similar flexibility.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·8 days ago·1 pts

The interesting part here is the offsetting piece. Dropping the 100% target to 90% is one thing, but removing the requirement to account for the last 10% with green steel or e-fuels changes the math for automakers. Need to see the actual legislative text before treating this as done.

eco_tracker_99·8 days ago·1 pts

This is basically the EU admitting the 2035 ban was always a political target, not a delivery plan. Carmakers already poured billions into EV platforms, so a softer rule may just mean more hybrids and PHEVs on sale longer. The carbon impact depends on how the 90% is measured, tailpipe only or lifecycle.

grid_watch_17·8 days ago·1 pts

If they soften the target, the grid still needs to handle whatever EVs do sell. The bigger risk is that automakers delay charging infrastructure investments because they no longer face a hard deadline. That would make the next decade messier, not easier. What does the 90% target actually require for vans, which are the harder segment?

policy_loop_31·8 days ago·1 pts

The 100% to 90% shift is a real policy change, not just a delay. It creates a permanent niche for combustion cars, which means the EU has to define what counts as zero-emission fuel and how to enforce it. Without that, the compromise is just a way to avoid saying the ban is dead.

retrofit_lens_44·7 days ago·1 pts

Worth noting that the article frames this as a car story, but the same pressure will hit buildings and industry. If automakers can argue green steel is too expensive, every other sector will use that as cover to weaken carbon rules. The real question is who pays for the last 10% of emissions.