EU proposes effective ban for new fossil-fuel cars from 2035...

EU proposes effective ban for new fossil-fuel cars from 2035

• Commission proposes 55% cut in CO2 emissions from cars by 2030
• Proposals include 100% cut in CO2 emissions from cars by 2035
• Commission expects 16.3 million charging stations by 2050
• Plug-in hybrids will count as low-emission vehicles until 2030

The European Union on Wednesday proposed an effective ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, aiming to speed up the switch to zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs) as part of a broad package of measures to combat global warming.

The EU executive, the European Commission, proposed a 55% cut in CO2 emissions from cars by 2030 versus 2021 levels, much higher than the existing target of a 37.5% reduction by then.

It also proposed a 100% cut in CO2 emissions by 2035, which would make it impossible to sell new fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the 27-country bloc.

"This is the sort of ambition we've been waiting to see from the EU, where it's been lacking in recent years," said Helen Clarkson, chief executive of the Climate Group, a non-profit group that works with business and government to tackle climate change.

"The science tells us we need to halve emissions by 2030, so for road transport it's simple – get rid of the internal combustion engine."

European car industry association ACEA, however, said banning a specific technology was not a rational way forward, adding that internal combustion engines, hybrids, battery electric and hydrogen vehicles needed to play a role in the transition.

To boost sales EV sales, Brussels also proposed legislation that would require countries to install public charging points no more than 60 kilometres (37.3 miles) apart on major roads by 2025.

It foresees 3.5 million public charging stations for cars and vans by 2030, rising to 16.3 million by 2050.

"The transition to electric vehicles is going much faster than anybody had ever anticipated, but then we are under an obligation to create the right incentives for that," said Frans Timmermans, the EU's head of climate change policy.

"So the charging infrastructure should be there."

Even when buyers have been able to afford the price premium for a part- or all-electric vehicle, many have been deterred by "range anxiety" because of a lack of public charging stations.

Carmakers had signalled they would only accept tougher emissions targets in return for massive public investment in chargers.

ELECTRIC INVESTMENTS

The Commission estimates 80-120 billion euros ($95-$142 billion) will need to be spent on public and private chargers across the EU by 2040.

IHS Markit said in a report on Tuesday that if the EU raised its CO2 emission reduction targets to 50% by 2030, it would bring new fossil-fuel car sales across the bloc down to virtually zero by then.

"It is clear that if these goals are implemented as solid proposals to be voted into legislation, that carmakers that have been bolder and invested heavily earlier on in electrification will have a significant advantage," IHS said.

The Commission's proposals will need to be negotiated and approved by EU member states and the European Parliament, which could take around two years.

Low-emission car sales surged in Europe last year, even as the COVID-19 pandemic knocked overall vehicle sales, and one in every nine new cars sold was an electric or plug-in hybrid.

Full electrification is a long way off, however.

Many carmakers have announced investments in electrification, partly in anticipation of tougher EU emissions targets.

Last month, Volkswagen AG said it would stop selling cars with combustion engines in Europe by 2035, though later in China and the United States.

And Stellantis said last week it would invest more than 30 billion euros by 2025 on electrifying its line-up.

Consultancy AlixPartners estimates carmakers and suppliers globally will invest $330 billion in electrification from 2021-2025, up 41% from its estimate of $250 billion for 2020-2024.

www.reuters.com


European Commission Proposes Ban For ICE Cars From 2035 On

Only zero-emission new cars will be allowed thereafter.

The European Commission announced today its latest proposals concerning climate ambitions, which should result in the reduction of new greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

Part of the package is stricter emission requirements for the automotive industry.

The European Commission intends to require a 55% reduction of the average emissions of new cars in 2030, compared to levels in 2021. It will be achievable, only through broad electrification.

The end goal is zero-emission for all new cars from 2035 - which means that no car with an internal combustion engine will be allowed for the first registration.

Only battery-electric cars (BEV) or hydrogen fuel cell cars (FCV) will comply.

Multiple manufacturers announced their own goals to end production and sales of conventional cars.

However, the official deadline set by the EU is necessary - according to EU President Ursula von der Leyen - to avoid a lack of certainty for the entire industry (via Automotive News):

https://insideevs.com/


Spain to invest billions in local EV industry

“It is important that Spain responds and anticipates this change in the European automotive sector,” said Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Spain is the second largest exporting car country in Europe after Germany – not only with Seat and Cupra, but also plants of Stellantis, Renault, Ford and Daimler, for example.

With this project, the government wants to boost not only the industry, but also the sales of electric cars. The goal is for the number of newly registered electric vehicles to reach the 250,000 mark in 2023 – compared to 18,000 in 2020.

www.electrive.com/2021/07/13/spain-to-invest-billions-in-local-ev-industry/


LG Chem will invest $5.2B in battery materials through 2025

South Korea’s LG Chem has earmarked ₩6 trillion ($5.2 billion) over the next four years to build out its battery materials business.

The investment comes as automakers and state regulators set targets to transition away from internal combustion engine vehicles, in a shift that will likely be the most transformative to the mobility industry since the invention of the car.

The investments will focus on boosting the production of anode materials, separation membranes, cathode binders and other essential battery components.

This includes plans to build a massive cathode plant in the South Korean city of Gumi, which will increase the industrial giant’s anode production capacity by seven-fold, from 40,000 tons to around 260,000 tons by 2026.

LG Chem had already agreed to invest ₩500 billion ($424 million) in the plant, which was announced in July 2019.

On the supply chain front, LG said it’s preparing a joint venture with a mining company for the supply of metals and other raw materials for battery components.

The company will “actively pursue cooperation in various ways with companies possessing mining, smelting and refining technologies to strengthen its metal sourcing competitiveness,” it said in a statement.

LG Chem is already one of the largest manufacturers of batteries and battery materials, with customers including Volkswagen, General Motors and Tesla. And the company only sees the global battery materials market expanding — from ₩39 trillion ($34 billion) in 2021 to ₩100 trillion ($87 billion) by 2026.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/14/lg-chem-will-invest-5-2b-in-battery-materials-through-2025/













“The global competition is just getting started, as the US, Europe and China are making moves to establish their own manufacturing infrastructure, battery technologies and supply chains,” an industry ministry official added. “The next five years will decide the standing of each country in the global battery market.” He went on to speak martially of an “all-out war” for which they have devised a comprehensive strategy.


Food for thought on the Road to Manono via South Korea to the DRC

Fingers Crossed

Frank