The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the largest parliamentary group in the European Parliament, has called for easing requirements to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars by 2035. their numbers are 90%, informs Automotive News Europe.
In other words, not everyone in the EU wants petrol and diesel to be completely removed from petrol stations anymore.
The European Parliament has so far pushed for a complete ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 and has rejected any attempts to facilitate it. Requirements.
The overall reduction of emissions from vehicles has become a key element of the “Fit for 55” European environmental strategy.
Introduced in July 2021, aiming to reduce net greenhouse gases in the EU by 55% (by 2030) on the way to carbon neutrality (by 2050).
The document’s roadmap assumes that by 2035, carbon emissions from new cars will be completely reduced. This is planned to be supported by a ban on sales of new internal combustion engine cars in all 27 countries of the European Union. The restrictions will affect not only petrol or diesel engines, but even hybrids that partially use current to move.
Automakers, including Ford and Volvo, supported the EU’s plan to end sales of internal combustion engine cars by 2035. However, according to Reuters sources,
many representatives of the auto industry have lobbied for easing tough deadlines,
because it forces them to abandon even alternative fuels with low carbon content such as gas and bioethanol.
Automotive industry representatives, mainly German, say the measures will cost thousands of jobs and call for a smoother transition to electrification. Conservative members of the European Parliament support tolerances that will allow sales of ICE cars to continue beyond 2035.
Russian influence
Shortly after the start of the special operation in Ukraine, automobile factories in Europe entered a period of stagnation due to the shortage of wire harnesses from Ukraine and nickel from Russia, and the cost of raw materials for battery production increased significantly, Wrote old socialbites.ca. Not only the production of electric cars, but also the production of cars with internal combustion engines was attacked.
Electric car manufacturers and other companies that need nickel and other raw materials for their batteries have begun to look for ways to protect themselves from potential risks. Audi CEO Markus Duesmann said, for example, that Volkswagen has decided to buy nickel directly from mining companies.
“Raw materials will be an issue for years to come,” Audi CEO told Automotive News.
The prospect of continued geopolitical tensions will accelerate attempts by the United States and Europe to secure domestic supplies of goods, often from Russia. Wrote New York Times.
Nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium, even copper – these are the metals we need for the green transition,
to mitigate the effects of climate change. Bo Stensgaard, general manager of Bluejay Mining (nickel mines in Greenland), quotes the NY Times.
In the short term, the EU will not dare to loosen its 2035 strategy.
SBS Consulting project manager Dmitry Babansky shared his opinion in an interview with socialbites.ca.
“In the long run, the decision to relax will depend on the economic situation. Overall, a full transition to electric cars is still possible in the EU by 2035,” says Babansky.
Sergey Burgazliev, an independent auto industry consultant, says the European Union may indefinitely delay its plans to switch to electric cars due to the lack of a unified management system, as in China, where development projects are focused on the 50-100 years.
“For this to be a really important event in terms of reducing vehicle emissions,
They must have at least 70-75% renewable energy generation across Europe.
These are more politicized statements than those that have a real impact on environmental care. Now there is a large percentage of coal and fuel oil production in Eastern European countries,” he explains.
Burgazliev should consider the issue of electricity generation from renewable energy sources in order to affect the improvement of the environmental situation and only then estimate how many vehicles will have to be produced.
If major battery manufacturers manufacture in Europe, then few EU countries will want to have such a production – it’s a very complex, energy-consuming and environmentally unfriendly process, says the expert.
“It seems strange – in China, Korea and South Africa we make everything “dirty”, and in Europe we use everything “clean”.
From a politician’s point of view, you can score points on this, but not in terms of common sense,” he stressed.
Impact of oil and gas
Earlier this year, the European Union issued legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia, including an embargo on imports of Russian oil and petroleum products. transmitted RBC. With gas and oil prices skyrocketing due to the Russian oil and gas embargo, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz factories are looking for alternatives to fossil fuels. informs Automotive News Europe.
Volkswagen businesses are approximately 80% dependent on non-renewable energy sources,
According to the European non-profit organization CDP (which evaluates environmental performance), the figure for BMW is 60%.
“They will not be able to quickly solve the problem of dependence on Russian oil, it is a matter of at least 3-4 years,” said Burgazliev, an independent consultant in the automotive industry.
Analysts note that renewable energy generators in auto companies’ factories cover a small fraction of their energy needs – about 1% for Volkswagen and even less for the rest. More than half of automakers’ energy consumption comes from fossil fuels, and the largest part comes from natural gas, without which they can’t even heat their production and paint shops.
The “green” trend has slowed in Europe,
Judging by the return of coal-fired power plants and the growth of coal production in Europe,” says Babansky, project manager at SBS Consulting. A significant rise in metal prices puts electric car manufacturers a significant amount of uncertainty (hence demand for easing).
“On the other hand, against the backdrop of this uncertainty, electric car and battery manufacturers will have to look for alternative chemistries with lower levels of critical raw materials (nickel, cobalt). Development and transition to new technologies will also take some time. And as a result, it will slow down the electrification of transportation,” says Babansky.