The Platform for Electromobility, a coalition of industry stakeholders, has called on the incoming EU Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, to maintain the bloc’s 2035 zero-emission vehicle target. In a letter dated 21st October 2024, the group stressed the importance of a stable regulatory framework to drive decarbonisation in the transport sector, one of Europe’s most polluting industries.
The platform, chaired by Céline Domecq, warned against recent calls to reverse the agreed CO2 standards for cars and vans, stating that such a move would “significantly penalise all industrial actors” and undermine investments already made in the transition. The group emphasised that the 2035 target is Europe’s most straightforward electric vehicle (EV) industrial strategy, bringing vital investments to European companies. “Attracting investments to create the net-zero industrial ecosystem for zero-emission mobility is not possible without a consistent, clear regulatory framework,” the letter stated.
In its recommendations, the platform highlighted the need for supply-side policies that cover the entire value chain, ensuring that climate goals are met while addressing the needs of citizens, consumers, and industry. This includes a steady regulatory framework that safeguards the 2035 zero-emission vehicles target and ensures swift and coherent implementation of other Green Deal measures, particularly those related to charging infrastructures and renewable energies.
The platform also underscored the importance of demand-side measures, proposing a legally binding corporate fleet mandate to accelerate the electrification of transport. This mandate would require companies to transition their vehicle fleets to electric, generating a steady supply of second-hand EVs. With two-thirds of Europeans purchasing their vehicles on the second-hand market, such measures would particularly benefit lower-income households who might otherwise struggle to afford new electric models. Additionally, the platform invited the European Commission to investigate other potential demand-side measures, such as social leasing, scrappage schemes, and sustainable taxation, to support the transition
Furthermore, the group advocated for a comprehensive Net Zero Investment Plan to bridge the escalating climate investment gap. This plan should not only focus on innovation but also provide limited-in-time yet predictable support for operating expenses and production, considering higher-risk ventures and structured under the EU Multi Financial Framework and new bond issuance programs.
The platform also emphasised the need for robust international cooperation to mitigate geopolitical and dependency risks. The EU should prepare responses to global green industry support programs carefully to avoid a subsidy race and strengthen cooperation with major economic powers to diversify sources of green technology and secure supply chains.
Regarding environmental concerns, the platform called for measures to eliminate emissions released during the life cycle of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the mobility sector, following the REACH risk management approach. The primary collective objective should be to reduce and, where possible, phase out the use of PFAS across all mobility industries.
The letter was also sent to Executive Vice-President-Designate Teresa Ribera and Executive Vice-President-Designate Stéfane Séjourné. The platform offered to meet with Commissioner-designate Hoekstra or his cabinet to discuss the recommendations further.
Image: Céline Domecq at a ChargeUp Europe / AVERE event in October 2024. Credits: ChargeUp Europe.
