CO2 emissions of new cars and vans

Written by Gregor Erbach.

Road transport is responsible for almost a fifth of the EU’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The revision of the regulation on CO₂ emission limits for new cars and vans under the ‘fit for 55’ package ensures an increasingly higher share of clean vehicles on European roads. All new cars registered after 2035 must be zero-emission vehicles. The new Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) meanwhile provides for roll‑out of the necessary recharging points.

Background

GHG emissions from transport must fall quickly if the EU wants to reach its target of reducing net GHG emissions by 55 % below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050, as set out in the EU Climate Law. Considering the lifetime of vehicles, a phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by the mid-2030s ensures that the vast majority of vehicles on European roads will be zero-emission by 2050. The increasing share of electric vehicles requires a swift roll-out of recharging points, as well as increased generation of renewable electricity and a reinforced electric grid.

Objectives and targets

A revised EU regulation, adopted in April 2023, sets more ambitious standards for reducing the CO₂ emissions of new cars and vans. By 2025, new cars and vans registered in the EU must emit 15 % less CO₂ compared with the targets applicable in 2021. Average CO₂ emissions of new cars by 2030 would have to be 55 % lower, and those of new vans, 50 % lower. Such deep reductions are not achievable by further improving the energy efficiency of petrol and diesel vehicles, but only by raising the share of zero- and low-emission vehicles sold. Although the regulation is technology-neutral, battery-electric vehicles dominate the market for zero-emission cars and vans, and are offered by all major car markers. By 2035, CO₂ emissions of new cars and vans would have to fall by 100 %, i.e. all new vehicles would have zero emissions.

An increasing share of electric vehicles requires and depends on the wide availability of charging points. To promote roll-out of charging infrastructure, the AFIR, adopted in September 2023, requires Member States to ensure publicly accessible recharging capacity to accommodate the growing number of electric vehicles. The recharging infrastructure is built out in four stages. By end-2025, recharging pools supplying at least 400 kilowatts (kW) of power, including at least one fast charger, must be present on the TEN-T core network (roads and motorways linking major cities) at least every 60 km. In stage 2, by end-2027, the power of charging pools on the core network will be increased to 600 kW, and half of the TEN-T comprehensive network, which connects all EU regions to the core network, must have a 300 kW charging pool, including at least one fast charger, every 60 km. In stage 3, by end-2030, these requirements will apply to the entire comprehensive network. By end-2035 (stage 4), all charging pools must supply at least 600 kW. Besides targets for charging pools for cars and vans, the AFIR also sets targets for charging points and hydrogen refuelling points for trucks and buses, and electrical supply for stationary aircraft at airports and ships at ports.

LULUCF Regulation: Implementation timeline

Implementation on the ground

Implementation of the CO₂ emissions targets for new cars and vans is primarily the responsibility of the automotive industry, which needs to produce and sell zero- and low-emission vehicles. Member States have supported the transition towards electric vehicles with support measures such as subsidies. Local and regional authorities have an important role to play in promoting clean mobility, which includes not only the transition to zero-emission cars and vans and roll-out of charging infrastructure, but also modern and efficient public transport systems, shared mobility, low-emission zones, and attractive environments for walking and cycling. Electric vehicle capitals – the cities most advanced in the transition to electric mobility – use demand-driven strategies and adapted building codes for rolling out charging infrastructure, actively promote electric vehicles, and are planning and implementing zero-emission zones.

Pilot projects for electromobility in Stockholm, Málaga and Berlin
Under the MEISTER project, three European cities ran pilot projects to provide interoperable platforms and services for easier and barrier-free access to charging, billing and smart-grid services, and increase the use of renewable energy and self-generation to power electric vehicles. In Stockholm (Sweden), the use of electric vehicles to provide home care services to the elderly reduced the amount of CO₂ emissions per vehicle by 94 %. The city will thus favour electric vehicles in public procurement. In Málaga (Spain), municipal employees using an electric carsharing service in the municipal fleet reduced the CO₂ emissions of their private vehicle usage by 84 %. Málaga now plans to buy more electric vehicles for its municipal car and van fleet. In Berlin (Germany), an electric carsharing offer for tenants reduced their annual mobility costs for a mileage of up to 4 000 km significantly, compared with a privately owned petrol or diesel car. Based on the positive experience, Berlin extended the offer to realise other benefits such as reduced space for parking. The project involved 11 partners from four European countries and was supported by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
User-centric charging infrastructure (USER-CHI) in seven European cities
The city-led USER-CHI project works to design electric charging networks around user needs. Its innovative solutions will be demonstrated in five European cities – Barcelona (Spain), Berlin (Germany), Budapest (Hungary), Rome (Italy) and Turku (Finland) – and replicated in Murcia (Spain) and Florence (Italy) to show that results are transferable. The project involves 23 partners (cities, electricity suppliers, technology providers and research labs) from six countries and is co-funded by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The project’s results include a manual for the intermodal charging station of the future and the INCAR app, which helps drivers find charging stations from different providers, see their current availability and charging tariffs, book a charging point, and make payments. The app is currently being tested in Barcelona and Berlin.
Smart solar charging in Utrecht, the Netherlands
To improve quality of life in the city, Utrecht wants all homes to stop using natural gas by 2030 and construct 44 000 new energy-efficient homes. All cars should be emission-free by that date. Utrecht participates in the EU Lighthouse IRIS project, which is making its Kanaleneiland district a European leader in renewable energy and electric transport. To realise this vision, the city will require a new energy system centred around solar energy, electric cars and batteries. Solar charging ensures emission-free electricity supply. Moreover, the vehicles will serve as a battery to store sustainably generated energy until it is used at peak times in the local area. This approach avoids the need for costly electricity grid upgrades. Bidirectional charging with solar power and carsharing, pioneered in Utrecht’s Lombok district through the Smart Solar Charging project with EU regional development funding, is being further developed in the We Drive Solar project, which collaborates with partners in the region and car manufacturers. An EU Innovation Deal helped the project overcome regulatory barriers. The Driebergen-Zeist railway station just outside of Utrecht is one of the world’s largest bi-directional charging stations, with 120 charging points and 3 252 m² of solar panels).
South Tyrol, an Alpine model region for clean mobility
The 8-year LIFEalps project aims to transform the Italian South Tyrol region into an Alpine model region for zero‑emission mobility, contributing to the South Tyrol Climate Plan. The project focuses on infrastructure for electric and hydrogen vehicles, pilot fleets and zero-emission transport services. It involves a municipal utility, regional highway and transport operators, energy suppliers, and a research institute.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘CO2 emissions of new cars and vans‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Read more on ‘EU measures against climate change‘.