Bend or Break Time for Europe’s 2035 Car CO2 Rules - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the ongoing debate and pressure surrounding the European Union’s 2035 car CO2 emissions standards, a critical component of the European Green Deal aimed at decarbonizing the automotive sector. While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has publicly reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to climate goals and an electric future, there are simultaneous signals of potential weakening of these standards due to intense lobbying by car manufacturers. The Commission appears to be adopting a "bend, don’t break" approach—making concessions to industry demands to avoid losing the regulations entirely. However, this strategy risks creating loopholes that could undermine the effectiveness and investment certainty of the CO2 rules. Key flexibilities being pushed by carmakers include supercredits or multipliers for small electric vehicles (EVs), which could reduce the required share of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by up to 15%, and allowances for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) powered by so-called carbon neutral fuels (CNFs), which may constitute