Ladesituation in Mantua Süd, Italien. Foto: Sabine Metzger
The EU apparently plans to exert some pressure on the transition to electromobility. The EU Commission is considering introducing a ban on combustion engines in rental car companies and company fleets starting in 2030. However, there is resistance not only from the rental car industry, but also from the German Federal Ministry of Transport. However, the Commission emphasizes that no concrete decisions have yet been made.
The EU wants to achieve its climate goals and is therefore considering accelerating the transition to electromobility. This was already the subject of passionate debate in January, and a ban on combustion engines in company cars starting in 2030 is apparently planned. There is a possibility that this ban will also apply to rental cars in the future, according to information from EU sources reported to “Bild am Sonntag.” According to the report, rental cars will also be electric-only from 2030. According to the newspaper, this would affect around 60 percent of new car sales, while the rest would mainly be accounted for by private customers.
According to the VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry), there is criticism of the planned EU regulations, particularly in the area of charging infrastructure. VDA President Hildegard Müller emphasizes that Germany, France, and the Netherlands together have almost 60 percent of all charging points in the EU. It is also interesting that Hamburg has more charging points than Slovakia or Bulgaria. This shows how differently the charging infrastructure is already developed in the individual countries.
Car rental companies also warn against introducing a quota for electric cars without sufficient infrastructure in place. Sixt CEO Nico Gabriel emphasizes that a ban on combustion engines for fleet operators from 2030 onwards could be difficult to implement in practice, as there is still a lack of sufficient charging stations in the EU. This could mean that vacationers can hardly use rental cars and consumers have difficulty leasing vehicles. It is therefore important to push forward with the expansion of the charging infrastructure to ensure a smooth transition to electric cars.
The path from EU plans to actual implementation is quite long and uncertain. According to “Bild,” the EU Commission plans to present the new regulation and bring it to parliamentary approval only in late summer. After that, both the EU Parliament and the EU Council must approve it, and finally, the heads of state and government of the member states must also give their approval. This means that there are still several hurdles to overcome before the plans can come into force.
The CDU-led Ministry of Transport made it clear on Sunday that it rejects the plans for a combustion engine ban for rental car companies and company fleets. A spokesperson for the department headed by Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) stated that they strictly reject these plans and have also communicated their opposition to car rental companies.
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