A 60% cut in CO2 emissions by 2030: the EU proposal
Tougher emission targets for the transport sector, with average emissions for new cars to be reduced from 95 to 50 g/km, as Italy sees an increase in electric car sales. By the end of 2020, the total number of zero-emission cars in the country will be more than doubled compared to 2019.
A 60% cut in CO2 emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, for an ever more sustainable Europe. That’s the new target the European Parliament proposed on 7 October after it approved – by 352 votes to 326, with 18 abstentions – an amendment to the proposed Climate Law presented to the European Commission.
The European Commission’s initial objective was a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. However, following changes proposed by its Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety the bar was raised to 60%. Such an ambitious target will make it easier for European institutions to introduce measures designed to eliminate CO2 emissions by 2050.
The European Council now has until the end of the year to reach an agreement on the first European Climate Law, requiring the firm commitment of all 27 member states.
Cutting CO2 emissions
The new objectives will also have implications for the transport sector. The average fleet-wide carbon dioxide emission target for new cars in Europe is currently 95 g/km, but this will need to come down to below 50 g/km to hit the 2030 goal. A substantial contribution from electric cars will be the only way to achieve the new figure.
The new challenge Europe is embarking on will also have a positive effect in Italy. In its “E-Mobility Mission Italy” strategy, Motus-E had made an early forecast that 4 million BEVs (battery electric vehicles) would be sold by 2030. In light of current figures, that scenario now seems conservative: by the end of 2020, around 28,000 100% electric vehicles will have been sold compared to the 20,000 originally forecasted.
Electric mobility in Italy
That means that the total number of electric cars in Italy – 22,728 vehicles in 2019 – will more than double. This growth goes hand in hand with an increase of charging points available in the country: currently 16,500 for approximately 40,000 electric vehicles circulating.
In October, electric cars registrations in Italy were up by 201% on the same month in 2019, with total registrations since the beginning of the year standing at 20,149 BEVs.
Of the five top-selling models, four are A00- or A0-class vehicles (the smallest-sized cars), showing that electric mobility is gradually reaching the mass market. This trend should also lead to an increase in sales volumes and a reduction of the purchase prices.
The situation in Europe
Electric cars registrations are on the rise in Europe too. The first nine months of 2020 saw a triple-digit increase on last year for BEV sales in France (+132%, 70,587 units), Germany (+105.2%, 98,610 units) and Great Britain (+165.4%, 66,611 units). The overall European market for electric vehicles has gone beyond 400,000 units between January and September.
The Norway "case"
Meanwhile, Norway maintains its status of “electric car oasis”. In September, 9,560 BEVs were registered, accounting for 61.5% of the total market. A significant contribution came from the launch of the Volkswagen ID.3, with 1,989 units sold.
This is the result of the country’s long-term electrification plan, which is one of the world’s most ambitious; by 2025, Norway aims to reach the point where only electric cars are sold. The target is all the more significant when you consider that electric cars’ average market share worldwide is around 3%.