According to Transport & Environment (T&E), the revised direction could mean EVs account for as little as 50% of new car sales by 2035 in a worst-case scenario, a long way from the original “full shift” expectation.
What’s changing (as reported)
Instead of requiring all new vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035, the Commission is now proposing a 90% CO₂ reduction vs 2021 levels, which sounds close, but creates space for loopholes.
Reported elements include:
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continued sales of plug-in hybrids and range extenders beyond 2035
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use of “offsets” (e.g. lower-carbon steel or e-fuels) to help meet targets
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a claim this flexibility could save manufacturers €2.1bn over three years to reinvest
T&E warns that relaxing interim targets could push total car CO₂ emissions 10% higher between 2025 and 2050 than previously planned (as cited in the Reuters summary).
EV Café Takeaway
“That’s a change from something binary, zero-emission or not, to something that lets manufacturers advertise petrol and diesel in a different way.”
Sam Clarke
“All the while, the Chinese market is saying ‘Oh lovely, we’ll just keep making EVs.’”
John Curtis
“Technology is going to drive change. We’re going to Auto China, that’s where you see the future.”
Paul Kirby
This is the classic tug-of-war: industrial pragmatism vs climate urgency. Carmakers want flexibility. Campaigners see a slippery slope.
The real question is: does this create a managed transition, or a permission slip to delay? Because if it’s the latter, Europe risks slowing itself down while others keep accelerating.