Brussels, 08/11/2017

The second part of the European Mobility Package published today does not go far enough to tackle the rising emissions from road transport in Europe.
 
The Package includes new targets that require average CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars and vans to fall by 15% in 2025 and 30% in 2030, compared to current 2021 targets. This falls far short of the level of ambition required to cut emissions from transport in a 2050 perspective.
 
“The decarbonisation of the transport sector is urgently needed for Europe to honour its Paris Agreement commitments. We stress the need for ambitious emission standards to drive the switch to zero-emission vehicles,” said Kristian Ruby, EURELECTRIC Secretary General.
 
The European electricity sector has repeatedly called on the European Commission to propose ambitious emission reduction objectives for all road transport segments for 2030, having in mind the deep decarbonisation of light road transport by 2050. As the electricity sector pursues carbon-neutrality by 2050, electricity becomes the obvious choice for driving the decarbonisation of transport in Europe.
 
The Package includes a mechanism to incentivise low- and zero-emission vehicles. However, the level of ambition is too weak to trigger the necessary paradigm shift to electric mobility across Europe.
“We acknowledge the Commission’s positive intention to promote low-and zero emission vehicles, however the design of this system does not ensure that such vehicles will actually enter the market,” Ruby stressed.
 
Regarding the proposal to revise the Clean Vehicles Directive, EURELECTRIC welcomes the introduction of a definition of ‘clean vehicles’ that is based on CO2 tailpipe emissions, as well as the proposed procurement targets for all Member States. This technology neutral approach can provide the necessary framework to ensure that public authorities lead by example.
 
Finally, EURELECTRIC welcomes that the Communication on an Action Plan for Alternative Fuels recognises the importance of investments in charging infrastructure to support the widespread deployment of electric vehicles, and stresses the key benefits of smart charging.
 
Over the coming weeks EURELECTRIC will analyse these proposals and will remain engaged in the discussions on the decarbonisation of the European transport sector.

ENDS

Press Contact:

Anamaria OLARU, Press & Media Relations

tel: +32 (0)483 45 92 42

e-mail: aolaru@eurelectric.org