Source: Piqsels
Italy, the home of high-performance sportscar makers including Ferrari and Maserati, has announced it will completely ban new combustion engine vehicles from 2035.
Under the new policy aimed at cleaning up the country’s transport sector, sales of all new passenger vehicles with internal combustion engines will be disallowed from 2035, and all new van and light commercial transport vehicle sales from 2040.
The decision was taken during the fourth meeting of Italy’s Interministerial Committee for Ecological Transition (CITES) and brings Italy in line with the European Commission’s July decision to ban the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in 2035.
No concrete measures were specified as to how Italy will go about bringing to reality the phase-out of ICE vehicles nor the necessary “solutions for the decarbonisation of transport”. However, Italy recently increased the country’s e-mobility funding budget and also raised funding rates during the middle of the year.
In July, the European Commission proposed an effective ban on the sale of new ICE vehicles starting from 2035. Additionally, a 55% cut in CO2 emissions from cars was proposed by 2030, based on 2021 levels – a significant increase on the existing CO2 emissions reduction target for vehicles of 37.5%.
“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, CEO of the international non-profit Climate Group, speaking in July.
“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.
“We’re encouraged to see the EU propose a revision to car CO2 emission standards to bring forward the end of sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2035 – this target is not only possible but would ensure Europe maintains its role as a leader in the climate transition.
“Beyond this, it’s encouraging to see commitments to invest in charging infrastructure.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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