Electric cars: France and six other countries oppose Germany and Italy
The French government is leading an initiative together with Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden to prevent further weakening of European vehicle electrification targets, warning that reviewing the Commission's latest proposals for 2035 would be a "strategic mistake," Les Echos reports. The joint statement is a response to pressure from countries such as Italy and Germany, which argue that the concessions made by the European Commission in mid-December regarding the goal of zero emissions by 2035 are insufficient.
Paris and its allies say the recent rise in gasoline prices reinforces the case for electrification, making it not only a climate goal, but also an issue of European energy security and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. They agree to a compromise by the European Commission to reduce exhaust emissions from 100% to 90%, with the remaining 10% offset by green steel and alternative fuels, but insist that any flexibility for manufacturers should remain strictly limited. The group opposes the abandonment of stricter certification rules for plug-in hybrid vehicles, arguing that real emissions are 3.5 times higher than expected when cars are not operated enough in electric mode. She also questions the wider use of environmentally friendly fuels, saying they should be reserved for sectors such as aviation and shipping. Since the current signatories form a blocking minority, further forced cancellation seems politically impossible.