ROME – For and against. As expected, the decision taken by the European Commission on the gradual elimination of the environmental impact of cars, as part of the “Fit for 55” reform package, has already begun to divide manufacturers, associations and sector analysts. According to the new rules, in fact, car manufacturers will have to reduce emissions from new vehicles by 55% compared to current levels by 2030. Furthermore, starting from 2035, the same manufacturers will have to produce and sell exclusively zero-emission cars. Finally, to allow drivers to have access to a reliable network across Europe for charging or refueling their vehicles, the revision of the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation will require Member States “to increase online charging capacity with the sales of zero-emission cars and the installation of recharging and refueling points at regular intervals on the main motorways: every 60 km for electric recharging and every 150 km for hydrogen refueling ”.
“A turning point for the automotive sector and excellent news for motorists” was the immediate comment of the European Federation of Transport & Environment (T&E). “The new EU rules will democratize electric cars by guaranteeing a decisive boost to charging infrastructures – said Carlo Tritto, Policy Officer for T&E Italia – Electric vehicles with zero emissions, in other words, will soon be accessible to millions of European citizens. , that is cheaper and easier to load “.
On the other hand, Acea, the European association of car manufacturers, is of a completely different opinion, which considers it “irrational” and “a mistake” to stop gasoline and diesel engines by 2035. The manufacturers claim to support “all efforts to make Europe carbon neutral by 2050, as foreseen by the proposed climate law, but banning a single technology is not a rational way to go at this moment “. Oliver Zipse, president of the association and CEO of BMW, said that “Ambitious climate goals require a binding commitment from all parties involved. The European Commission today made it very clear that the Green Deal can only be successful with mandatory targets. for the upgrading of recharging and refueling infrastructures in all Member States “. He added: “This will be essential to recharge the millions of electric vehicles that European carmakers will bring to market in the coming years and to provide an unprecedented reduction in CO2 emissions in the transport sector.”
For ACEA, all options, including highly efficient internal combustion engines, hybrids, battery and hydrogen electric vehicles, must play their role in the transition to climate neutrality. Again according to the industrial association, “it is not the internal combustion engine that is harmful to the environment, but fossil fuels”. Without the availability of renewable fuels, a 100 percent reduction target in 2035 effectively turns into a ban on internal combustion engines. “In the context of the technological restrictions proposed from 2035 onwards, we urge all EU institutions to focus on innovation rather than effectively imposing or banning a specific technology,” concluded Zipse.
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