On February 14th, the European Parliament passed a new law that will gradually phase out the use of ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles, a drastic measure for some but one that will speed up the process of moving faster towards a more environmentally sustainable future.

The new law sets the path towards zero CO2 emissions for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2035, as a result, the sale of new vehicles powered by fossil fuels will no longer be permitted in the 27-country bloc.

Additionally, the new law imposes a more ambitious target of a 55 percent reduction in CO2 emissions for new cars sold from 2030 compared to 2021 levels, which is higher than the existing target of 37.5 percent, new vans will also be required to comply with a 100 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2035, and a 50 percent reduction by 2030 compared to 2021 levels. The vote passed with 340 members in favor, 279 against and 21 abstentions.

The lead negotiator on the rules, Jan Huitema, said

This regulation encourages the production of zero- and low-emission vehicles. It contains an ambitious revision of the targets for 2030 and a zero-emission target for 2035, which is crucial to reach climate neutrality by 2050. These targets create clarity for the car industry and stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers. Purchasing and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers and a second-hand market will emerge more quickly. It makes sustainable driving accessible to everyone. - via EU news

Final approval is schedule to happen no earlier than March by the European Council.

As the world seeks to transition to sustainable energy, an increasing number of countries, including the UK and Singapore, have planned to phase out the sales of new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. These measures are expected to accelerate the adoption of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles, paving the way for a greener and cleaner future.

As a matter of fact, you can read more about the European Commission plan to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.