Recent negotiations in Brussels over the EU’s planned phase-out of combustion-engine cars suggest the European Commission is open to only limited changes to its emissions rules. Under the proposal described in the debate, new-car emissions would need to fall by 90 percent by 2035 compared with 2021, rather than by 100 percent. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the change a success, but critics argue that a modest adjustment would not address deeper problems with the current policy.
The case for a different approach rests partly on the slow uptake of electric cars. The source article says Germany’s three major carmakers now offer almost 60 electric models combined, and that Volkswagen has established two large factories dedicated to electric-vehicle production. But customer demand has not met earlier expectations, while the transition has also been constrained by a lack of charging infrastructure and electricity supply in parts of Europe.
The article also questions the assumption that electric cars have no emissions in use. It cites German Environment Agency data showing that each kilowatt-hour of electricity supplied in Germany in 2025 was associated with an average of 344 grams of CO₂, reflecting the use of gas and coal in power generation. At a consumption rate of 20 kWh per 100 kilometres, that would correspond to 69 grams of CO₂ per kilometre.
Charging access is described as especially limited in parts of southern and eastern Europe. The article says that in some areas there is only one fast-charging point per 100 square kilometres. It also points to electric cars’ low share of new registrations in Italy and Poland in September—7.6 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively—as evidence of the difficulty manufacturers face in meeting EU sales expectations when infrastructure and consumer demand lag.
Instead of imposing fleet emissions targets that automakers may struggle to meet, the proposed alternative is to make electric cars more attractive to drivers. One suggested measure is a long-term subsidy to reduce prices at public charging stations, making electric vehicles more accessible to people without a home charger. The article argues that this would encourage electrification without relying on strict manufacturer mandates.
It also proposes incentives for climate-neutral e-fuels to replace the 50 million tonnes of fossil diesel and petrol consumed annually by Germany’s existing vehicle fleet. Possible measures cited include long-term energy-tax relief and a CO₂ bonus for the fuel.
The argument is that a more market-oriented transition could give carmakers and suppliers greater certainty when planning products and production, while continuing to pursue transport decarbonisation with less disruption to manufacturers and jobs. The article presents these measures as an alternative to the EU’s current framework of new-car emissions limits and penalties.
Sources: FAZ.