Author: Ellen Hiep, Global EV Alliance
The European Union is stepping back from its ambitious plan to sell only zero-emission cars from 2035. Instead of a full phase-out of combustion engines, the European Commission now proposes a 90% CO₂ reduction target for new cars, a move that would allow plug-in hybrid vehicles to remain on the market well beyond 2035.
The shift has sparked concern among climate experts and electric mobility advocates, who warn that the decision risks slowing Europe’s transition to clean transport — and weakening its global competitiveness.
“This is a serious sign of illness,” says Christina Bu, Secretary General of the Norwegian EV Association. “Instead of investing in future technology and competing with China, the European car industry is fighting for yesterday’s technology.”
Market Reality: Drivers Choose Electric
Market data suggests the direction of travel is already clear. Recent research by the Global EV Alliance shows that 93% of drivers who have owned or driven an electric vehicle choose electric again when buying their next car. According to analysts, this raises a fundamental question: why extend the market for combustion-engine and hybrid vehicles when consumer preference is already shifting decisively toward full electrification?
While the Commission’s adjustment may appear modest, its impact could be significant. Allowing plug-in hybrids to continue beyond 2035 risks delaying investment certainty, slowing innovation, and fragmenting progress across member states.
A Slower, More Divided Transition
Critics warn the proposal could lead to a two-speed Europe. In countries where electrification is already well advanced, the transition to electric vehicles is effectively unstoppable. In others — where EV adoption is only just beginning — the diluted target may delay action even further, with negative economic and industrial consequences in the long term.
The proposal follows intense lobbying from parts of the European automotive industry and several member states. However, observers caution that this short-term relief for legacy technologies may come at a high cost: Europe risks losing even more ground to Chinese EV manufacturers, who are investing fully and decisively in electric technology.
Hybrids Fall Short of Climate Goals
Research consistently shows that only fully electric vehicles — not hybrids — can deliver the emission reductions Europe needs to meet its climate targets. Plug-in hybrids combine two separate powertrains in a single vehicle, making them complex, expensive, and inefficient to produce. In real-world use, their emission reductions are often far lower than advertised, particularly when drivers rely heavily on the combustion engine.
By extending the role of plug-in hybrids beyond 2035, Europe risks locking in a technology that delivers limited climate benefits while diverting resources from fully electric solutions.
Lessons From Norway and Denmark
Countries such as Norway and Denmark demonstrate what is possible with long-term, consistent, and consumer-focused EV policies. In these markets, electric vehicles dominate new car sales, costs have fallen rapidly, and drivers overwhelmingly choose electric options without hesitation.
Experts argue that if Europe’s car industry had been able to focus exclusively on electric vehicles sooner, EV prices could have fallen faster across all segments. In fact, market forecasts already indicate that electric vehicles will become cheaper than combustion or hybrid cars in every segment — even without a formal 2035 ban. When that tipping point is reached, consumers will almost always choose electric.
An Inevitable Electric Future
Electric cars are already cheaper to charge than petrol or diesel vehicles are to refuel, and fossil fuel prices are expected to rise further as supplies decline. Electric motors are also far more energy-efficient than combustion engines. Against this backdrop, critics ask a simple question: what will European consumers still need a new petrol or diesel car for in 2035?
For many in the EV sector, the answer is clear. The technology, the economics, and consumer behavior are already aligned. What is now at stake, they argue, is whether European policy will lead the transition — or slow it down.
Tagged with electric vehicles, EU, EV, GEVA