Sales of new diesel and petrol cars will be phased out across Europe by 2035 despite a lobbying onslaught from fossil fuel and car giants, says an Irish MEP.
Politicians ushered in new legislation on “CO2 emission standards for cars and vans” with 340 votes in favour to 279 against at the European Parliament today. Irish MEP Grace O’Sullivan hailed the move, which she says will shape a Europe “made for people, not traffic”.
The legally binding change effectively means a de facto ban on combustion technology in new cars and vans in 12 years and will be reviewed in 2027 to take account of any progress or otherwise. It also includes a commitment to reduce overall car emissions by 55% by 2030.
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Ireland’s Government must now update its fleet-wide C02 targets to align with the new regulations. Officials will also have to report all technical data on newly registered cars and vans annually to the European Commission as a result.
Green Party politician, Ms O’Sullivan, said during the debate in Strasbourg: “Today we set out a new vision for our towns and rural areas. A Europe built for people, not for traffic.”
She has now called on the Irish Government to support rural Ireland to make the transition with massive investment in transport. “About 18% of Ireland’s total emissions come from road transport so this is a crucial sector to support in the transition to a more sustainable future,” added Ms O’Sullivan.
“It’s also one of the only areas where we already hold all of the keys to solve the issue at hand - strong investment in public transport, pedestrian friendly towns and affordable electric vehicles. Rural Ireland in particular should be supported as a priority.
“The current cost of living crisis has seen fossil fuel companies make the biggest profits in history on the backs of working families. We need to move towards energy independence in Ireland, including cutting our dependence on foreign oil, gas, petrol and diesel.”
According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry a total of 105,253 new cars were registered in Ireland last year. Petrol accounted for 30.16%, diesel 26.77%, hybrid 19.29%, electric 14.90%, and plug-in hybrids 6.76%.
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SIMI Director General, Brian Cooke, says the new legislation will be a “huge challenge” for the motor industry but one “manufacturers are already embracing with massive investment” in EVs across a variety of price points. He added: “What the Industry doesn’t control however is the level of taxation on motor vehicles, which in a country like Ireland with historically high levels of purchase taxes on new cars could prove a real barrier in driving down transport emissions.”
He has called for an “extension of current EV supports, such as purchase grants and low BIK taxation on new cars, as well as a move away from purchase taxes such as VRT”. "By doing this we will not only improve the demand for EVs but, with Ireland competing with other EU countries for EVs, this will also secure enough supply to satisfy the growing demand,” he added.
“The momentum in the EV market is there now and we need to build on this.” Ireland’s Transport Minister Eamon Ryan welcomed the European Parliament’s landmark vote.
He told us: “Ireland has supported the rapid passage of the regulation and indeed sought even greater ambition, recognising that an EU wide regulation is the most effective approach here. Nearly 15,500 new EVs were licensed for the first time in 2022, just over 15% of the total number of new cars registered. They are increasing year on year.
“Climate Action Plan 2023 sets a target that 1 in 3 cars on the road in 2030 will be an EV, which I am confident we will meet. However, EVs are not the only response to achieving our climate ambition to reduce emissions in transport by 50% - they are one part of the solution,” he added.
“We also have to strengthen and enhance our public transport, in particular public transport in rural Ireland, and we have to put in place safe and segregated walking and cycling facilities that will give more people a viable choice to be able to go to work, school or the shops, for example, without using the car.” Small-time car manufacturers making less than 1,000 vehicles a year will be exempt from the regulation change.
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