Although the measure has yet to be debated by the Council and passed by law, parliamentary voting is considered the most crucial step in the process. Full approval is likely to lead to a drop in hybrid car sales and a rapid transition to all-electric models.
Support for the measure comes after a series of rejections of other key climate policies on Wednesday.
A center-right parliamentary faction had expressed opposition to a 100% ban by 2035. Some lawmakers had called for a 90% ban, meaning that a tenth of all new car sales could still be combustion engines.
“I am very relieved and happy with the outcome,” said Dutch lawmaker Jan Huitema, who led the policy making.
Parliament has previously rejected three other key proposals, including its central policy to reform its carbon market.
German lawmaker Peter Liese had told reporters earlier Wednesday that his center-right EPP group did not support a 100% ban, adding that combustion vehicles could still be useful if the technology around synthetic fuels was low. carbon improved over time.
“We don’t think politicians have to decide if electric vehicles or synthetic fuels are the best choice. I personally think most consumers will buy an electric car if we give them the infrastructure they need and that’s what we need to do,” he said. dit. dit.
He added that it is possible that combustion cars with synthetic fuels may be more competitive in the future than electric vehicles. They may also be more realistic for many developing nations in Africa and Asia, which buy European cars, especially if those countries cannot move to renewable energy-based economies in the coming decades, Liese said.
The Commission first announced a plan to eliminate combustion-engine cars in August last year. To make the switch to electric cars easier, the Commission said it would require all 27 EU member states to expand the carrying capacity of vehicles. Charging points will be installed every 60 kilometers (37.3 miles) on major roads and the minimum tax rate for gasoline and diesel will be increased.
The car industry plays a vital role in the European economy, accounting for 7% of gross domestic product and supporting 14.6 million jobs in the region. But transportation is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions are rising, and road vehicles accounted for 21% of CO2 emissions in 2017.
The UK, which is no longer in the EU, announced last year that it would ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, and sales of some new hybrids will continue until 2035.
The vote in favor of the measure followed Parliament’s shocking rejection of EU proposals to create a more ambitious emissions trading scheme, a carbon border tax and a social climate fund.
Liese, Parliament’s chief negotiator on carbon market reform, urged his colleagues to try it again in committee to find a proposal to get support.
“Everyone who voted against today can think twice … please don’t kill the ETS,” he said.
Setting more ambitious targets for the scheme, which forces some of the most polluting to buy carbon credits, was the bloc’s central legislation in its Fit for 55 umbrella plan, a roadmap to reduce emissions by 55% in 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The target is one of the most ambitious climate targets of any major economy.
The EU is the third most polluting in the world.