The days of oil are numbered. Sooner than we expect, we will witness a revolution that will completely change the international scene. This is an event that is already taking shape in much of Europe. Electric cars will become the protagonists of the market and cars that run on fossil fuels will become obsolete and buried forever in the memory of humanity.
It turns out that governments plan to ban the sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2040 in many European countries. It was something that sooner or later was going to happen because air pollution is one of the major international concerns and drastic measures must be taken.
THE CHALLENGE TO ELIMINATE THE FUEL COMBUSTION CARS NEEDS AN URBAN PLAN ACCORDING TO SUCH A MEASURE
Thus, it is a firm bet, as it is expected that by 2040 the sale of engines whose fuel generates carbon dioxide is completely banned. But it will be ten years later when they really won’t be able to circulate anymore.
But the news can only bring positive consequences and the transition will be gradual. Nevertheless, it will not be long before we incorporate the electric car and standardise something for which, without a doubt, will need an infrastructure in accordance with the magnitude of the change. We refer to cars with the same autonomy as those we know until now and stations or loading points for the project to be viable. Such as Iberdrola’s Smart Mobility plan, which aims to install 25,000 recharging points until 2021 in Spain, in order to be able to recharge every 100 km.
Europe bets on the electric car
This commitment to renovation is led by the nations of northern Europe, due to a more ingrained ecological awareness. We’re talking about countries like Norway, which already have plenty of recharging stations throughout the country. Denmark, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands also top the list of countries aiming to end the sale of traditional cars by 2030. Moreover, the general plan is to achieve zero emissions by 2050 across the continent.
THE PIONEERING COUNTRIES IN DECONGESTING OF COMBUSTION VEHICLES IN CITIES ARE THOSE OF NORTHERN EUROPE.
Many manufacturers already exclude combustion engines from their plans and have initiated the production of 100% electric cars, such as the well-known Tesla brand, which only produces cars of these characteristics. The forecast in numbers for the change is as follows: neutral cities regarding emissions by 2050, end of diesel in 2024, petrol in 2030 and by 2040 total extinction of fossil combustion cars.
Smoke-free public transport
This plan is already being seriously carried out by cities such as Paris or London. But, as we said before, governments plan a gradual transition, as, for example, in Paris. The French capital wants to be carbon neutral, but, to avoid social alarm, it will do so progressively and without penalties. Its aim is to strengthen subsidies, invest in alternatives and provide financial assistance to enable individuals and professionals to buy clean vehicles.
Fleets of taxis, buses, and light commercial vehicles that are not zero emissions will not be allowed in some cities 10 years from now. To achieve this, millions of euros are being invested in renewable energies and in the closure of coal plants. Moreover, there is a strong economic investment in bicycle infrastructure in major cities on the continent.
According to the United Nations, air pollution causes one in nine deaths. Thus, all health authorities warn of the danger posed by the use and abuse of petrol and diesel vehicles and their contribution to worsening the city’s toxic air. A reality that needs immediate change.