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https://thedriven.io/2026/02/06/rewarding-the-laggards-eu-backflip-on-ice-phaseout-puts-ev-transition-at-risk/>
"A new analysis of the European Union’s decision to weaken CO₂ emissions
standards for cars by replacing its original 2035 zero-emissions target with a
90 per cent reduction will introduce high levels of uncertainty that could see
battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales slip by as much as 50 per cent.
The European Commission, the primary executive branch of the European Union,
announced in December a proposed revision to the bloc’s CO₂ emissions standards
for cars and vans.
While the Commission claimed that its revisions were “ambitious” and designed
to “ensure 2050 climate neutrality and strategic independence”, the fact that
they no longer call for a complete phaseout of internal combustion engines mean
that they are a downgrade on previous legislation under the guise of being
“pragmatic policy… while providing more flexibility to manufacturers.”
In the Commission’s own words, in place of actual zero-emission policies, the
new proposal maintains only “a strong market signal for zero-emission vehicles
(ZEV) while giving the industry more flexibility to achieve CO₂ targets.”
The revision came after intense lobbying from European automotive and fuel
industries and fly in the face of evidence that the electric vehicle (EV)
transition was working.
And according to a new analysis published this week by leading European
advocacy group for clean transport and energy, Transport & Environment (T&E),
the revisions will serve only to create huge uncertainty in the region’s EV
market, potentially cutting the EV market share from 85 per cent in 2035 to as
low as 50 per cent.
“It’s like hedging your bets when there’s only one horse in the race,” said
Lucien Mathieu, cars director at T&E.
“The world is going electric, but the EU proposal would divert investment into
other technologies that won’t deliver for the climate or the economy. The
current 2035 target provides the investment certainty Europe needs to scale up
EV production and compete globally.
“The proposed changes would mean keeping the combustion engine and hybrid alive
and rewarding the laggards.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
