Manufacturers could soon face strict targets for electric and ultra-low emission vehicles as a share of their overall sales, as part of measures to phase out CO2-emitting models by 2035, following a report adopted in the European Parliament yesterday.

European Commission is looking to reduce car and LCV emissions by 30% by 2030

The report, which addresses low-carbon mobility across the European Union, calls on the Commission to publish draft CO2 standards for post-2025 car fleets, based on the new WLTP test cycle, which would continue the downward trend set out in the 2030 climate and energy framework and Paris Agreement.

It also suggests a stepped increase in the proportion of manufacturers total fleet which must be ultra-low emission or fully electric vehicles, proposing fiscal incentives and support for charging infrastructure to help the market grow, but also stressing that electricity used should come from greener sources, and that the technology should be cleaner to build and recycle. The aim is to encourage a competitive low-carbon vehicle industry in the region.

This could be accompanied by measures to target petrol and diesel use. The document suggests subsidies for fossil fuels should be phased out by 2020, and backs measures to introduce electronic tolling on major routes, which could differentiate between cars and vans based on their CO2 output and Euro emission standard.

There are also hints that vehicles’ fuel meters could anonymously supply data on fuel efficiency to enable in-use compliance with test data, while labelling at the point of sale would show consumption and pollutant information. Urban air quality, meanwhile, will be targeted by incentivising electric commercial vehicles, and enabling interoperability of different public transport modes.

The report was welcomed by Transport & Environment, with clean vehicles officer, Yoann Le Petit, commenting: “Parliament has shown it is serious about cleaning up Europe’s transport sector. MEPs have confirmed they want to see ambitious 2025 CO2 targets as well as a separate sales target for zero emission vehicles.

“In the forthcoming debates on the Second Mobility Package, Parliament has signalled it sees decarbonisation as a key pillar of the mobility revolution and complementary to a competitive industry that will secure jobs and investments in Europe.”