Electric mobility gains momentum in Europe

The future without CO2-emitting cars is getting closer and closer. The European Parliament has just backed a proposal to ban the sale of new cars with combustion engines by 2035, and to combat climate change by boosting the development of electric vehicles. It is a proposal that needs the approval of all 27, but if it sees the green light it will imply the European commitment to decarbonize the automotive industry, aligned with the goal of a climate-neutral EU by 2050.

According to the European Commission, cars account for around 12% of European greenhouse gas emissions, which are blamed for the increasing frequency of heat waves, storms and floods related to climate change.

Thus, if the European Parliament’s proposal is accepted, automakers have a major challenge ahead of them, although many have already incorporated it into their manufacturing targets. China is now the benchmark, as it is the country in the world that is selling the most electric vehicles followed by the United States and Norway.

Electric mobility means less CO₂

In addition, European lawmakers have also approved a 55% reduction in CO₂ emissions from vehicles in 2030 compared to 2021. This is a way of backing up the current obligation for the automotive industry to reduce CO₂ emissions by 37.5% on average by 2030 compared to 2021.

In this clear commitment to electric mobility, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association corroborates the unstoppable rise of this mode of transport: in 2021 electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for 18% of new passenger car sales sold in the EU.

And this year, according to data from EV Volumes, sales of fully electric cars are still 15% above last year’s level.

Electric vehicle webinar

Based on the assumption that the only transport that does not pollute is the human body itself, the development of the electric vehicle presents further advantages over traditional methods of transport that rely on fossil fuels.

But although there is consensus that the electric vehicle is much more sustainable than the one that uses gasoline, its market penetration is not desirable due to its high price, shorter range, charging time and the scarcity of recharging point networks.

To discuss these and other challenges it faces, Kaila has organized, together with Zabala Innovation, the webinar ‘Challenges and opportunities for the electric vehicle’, with experts from the most innovative Spanish organizations in mobility: Irizar, Ikerlan and Circe. Do not miss it!