Climate Group is calling on EU policymakers to lock in the policy certainty needed to speed up the EV transition as a pathway to more stable and lower running costs.
According to the group, this means maintaining clear targets and standards, while continuing the rapid roll-out of supporting infrastructure.
As policymakers start negotiations on the EU Automotive Package, which will set the pace and direction of Europe’s shift to zero-emission transport, the group said “there is a growing risk that weakened CO₂ standards and increased flexibility could slow the transition to clean, cheaper-to-drive transport”.
With support from companies such as EDF, AstraZeneca, Arcadis, Danfoss, Grundfos, and Chiesi, Climate Group’s EV100 network is calling on the EU to lock in EV transition measures and secure Europe’s economic resilience and support energy security.
It is calling for:
- Clear and stable CO₂ standards for cars and vans, including a firm pathway to 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales by 2035, to provide long-term investment certainty
- Ambitious corporate fleet targets focused exclusively on zero-emission vehicles, avoiding loopholes and low-emission exemptions that dilute impact
- A strong enabling ecosystem, including the continued rollout of reliable charging infrastructure, strategic investment in resilient electricity grids, and robust national incentives to accelerate adoption
It added that “corporate fleets are a critical engine of Europe’s clean transport transition, and one of the fastest routes to accelerate EV uptake. With the right policy framework, expanding electric fleets will drive wider EV demand, support European manufacturing, increase infrastructure deployment, and strengthen the second-hand EV market”.
The news comes as Climate Group is a supporter of this year’s Transport + Energy Fleet Electrification Forum at Warwick Conferences on 8 July.
Dominic Phinn, Head of Transport at Climate Group, said:
“At a time of heightened geopolitical instability and continued volatility in global oil markets, the case for electrification has become even more overwhelming.
“This is a decisive phase for Europe; the choices made now will determine whether it accelerates towards a zero-emission transport system or risks slowing investment, fragmenting the market, and losing its competitive edge.”
Marion Labatut, EU Affairs Director at EDF, said:
“Electrifying transport is not only a climate imperative: it already makes economic sense. With a more competitive total cost of ownership, European based jobs, zero CO₂ emissions, and resilience against oil price shocks and supply disruptions, electric mobility strengthens both our climate ambition and our strategic autonomy.
“This is why we must keep a high ambition on the automotive package.”
Image courtesy of Green Car Guide
