EU Member Nations Validate Push to End Combustion Engine Sale by 2035

The European Union has approved a plan to end the sale of vehicles coming with combustion vehicles by 2035 in the continent of Europe, in a bid to decrease carbon dioxide emission to zero.

The measure, which was first proposed in July 2021, will mean a complete halt to the sales of petrol and diesel cars and also light commercial vehicles and a complete shift to the electric engines in the European Union from 2035. The plan is also intended to help achieve the climate objections of European Union, specifically carbon neutrality by 2050.

At requests of countries including Italy and Germany, the European Union has also agreed to consider a green light in future for the use of alternative technologies such as plug-in hybrids and synthetic fuels. As the approval will be tied to achieve complete elimination of the greenhouse gas emissions, the technologies have also been contested by the environmental NGOs.

The meeting of Environment Ministers has also approved an extension of five years of exemption from carbon dioxide obligations granted to the niche manufacturers and those producing lesser than 10,000 vehicles per year until the end of 2035.

Agnes Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Ecological Transition of France said, this is a big challenge for their automobile industry, and it was a necessity in the face of their competition such as the United States and Chines, which are betting heavily on the electric vehicles.