Will Europe really ban thermal cars in 2035?
The all-electric transition is undoubtedly the most powerful industrial transformation the European Union has ever experienced, and Europe has no room for error. Was the ban on the sale of new thermal cars in 2035 too hasty? Some seem to think so and want to delay the mass arrival of the electric car.
As you no doubt know, the sale of new thermal cars (including hybrids and plug-in hybrids) will be banned in the European Union in 2035.
The decision has caused concern and displeasure from some major car groups, including Stellantis and Renault groups, who say the transition is too fast. Even some countries, such as Germany or Italy, were not very happy with this decision.
A number of European countries, including Italy, are concerned
Although sales of electric cars are growing rapidly, charging infrastructures are congested, electric models are becoming more and more successful, and it is highly likely that within a few years there will be a price equilibrium between thermal cars and electric cars. , there are still many uncertainties about this lawnot necessarily on the side of electric cars, but more for thermal cars.
Europe has already approved the idea of a 2026 review clause. The goal? Give manufacturers more time for charging station networks to adapt and expand. Italy has made progress in this direction in a complex economic context for a country where new car sales have fallen, unlike the rest of Europe, where growth has been steady. Only the fear of seeing electric cars arrive too soon, with higher prices and a necessarily underdeveloped network, worries Italy.
Italy is one of the most “active” countries globally regarding this law. We owe him, in particular, the famous Ferrari amendment, which provided for an exemption for luxury cars produced less than 1,000 copies per year.
Matteo Salvini, Italy’s transport minister, goes even further by stating this “The ban on thermal cars made no sense and this law is based on environmental pseudo-fundamentalism”. The latter goes further by threatening Europe with a social crisis by predicting the layoffs of thousands of workers in Europe, a freeze on sales of new cars with heat engines is maintained.
It is true that the production of electric cars requires less labor, but manufacturers do not intend to continue to cut workers. It will be necessary to open new factories, especially for batteries.
France is less pessimistic
Even with Clément Beaune, the transport minister in France, we seem a little more optimistic ” a review clause to see if there are other technologies that can accompany electrical technology. “.
“Let’s not kill our European industry either, because there are continents that are a little slower than us”he added. “We are not going to stop exporting hybrid or thermal vehicles abroad in 2035, otherwise it will be the Chinese who conquer all emerging markets”insisted the minister.
European Commission Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton previously told Les Echos in an interview. “Insisted on the adoption of the vision clause for 2026”. It is a transition to full electricity “Undoubtedly the most powerful industrial transformation the European Union has experienced”Thierry guessed Breton.
Regardless, we certainly won’t know anytime soon whether the new thermal cars will be officially banned from sale in Europe in 2035. Meanwhile, for the first time in France, more new electric cars were sold in recent months than diesel ones. It is a sign that the transition is still in progress.
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