The EU has already agreed to phase out new sales of passenger cars and light trucks powered by petrol and diesel from 2035. The draft now presented by European lawmakers includes trucks over 7.5 tonnes as well as city and long-distance buses by 2040. There will however be some critical exceptions such as vehicles used by the armed forces and the fire service, as well as vehicles used in the rescue service, public order and healthcare among others.
The phase out will take place in several stages. For trucks and long-distance buses emissions must be reduced by 45 percent from 2020 levels by 2030, further to 65 percent in 2035 and 90 percent by 2040. For city buses, emissions must be reduced by 100 percent by 2035.
The plan will now be handed over to the member states’ representatives within the council and to the parliament’s environment committee for approval. If the text is approved, it must be formally adopted by both institutions and, after a review, can then be adopted by the EU. If accepted, it sends a clear signal to manufacturers about the direction to go.
