Abstract:

Almost half a dozen countries in Europe have set combustion-engine passenger car phase-out targets and dates in national strategies, plans, and programs, or have drafted or adopted such laws to mitigate climate change. In addition to national commitments, almost 30 cities have made plans or have pledged to prohibit combustion-engine cars altogether in urban centers or entire metropolises with the main aim of improving local air quality, partly focusing on full bans for diesel vehicles at an earlier stage than gasoline-powered cars. The growing numbers of announcements by local and national governments to phase out combustion-engine vehicles over the next 20 years are an important signal to car manufacturers to align their vehicle production around electric power. Almost half a dozen countries in Europe have set combustion-engine passenger car phase-out targets and dates in national strategies, plans, and programs, or have drafted or adopted such laws to mitigate climate change. In addition to national commitments, almost 30 cities have made plans or have pledged to prohibit combustion-engine cars in urban centers or entire metropolises with the main aim of improving local air quality. Many locales are focusing on full bans for diesel vehicles at an earlier stage than gasoline-powered cars. Combustion-engine vehicle phase-out targets have added more pressure on car manufacturers to adapt their product portfolios. Helping to facilitate and accelerate these plans are national tax policies such as incentives for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles and significantly higher taxes for high-emitting vehicles, and local actions such as cities imposing urban vehicle access regulations.