The waiting game is finally over for car owners across the European Union as the European Commission and European Parliament have finally decided on when to start the ban on petrol and diesel vehicle sales.
Beginning in 2035, manufacturers are no longer allowed to sell any vehicle that releases carbon dioxide or CO2, including plug-in hybrid and hybrid cars. Only hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars and battery-powered EVs (electric vehicles) do not produce dangerous greenhouse gas.
The 2035 initiative intends to reduce passenger cars and vans’ carbon dioxide emissions by 100% compared to levels set in 2021.
Commercial vehicles such as vans are expected to follow a different ruling. By the year 2030, their emission levels should have been reduced by 50%, and by 2035, the reduction should be at 100%. These are compared to numbers from 2021.
Manufacturers that produce less than 10,000 new vehicles every year are given an exemption. Their final cut-off is moved to the start of 2036. Their intermediate target is also negotiable. It doesn’t matter how small the difference is, if a carmaker goes over the 10,000 mark, they will have to follow the EU ruling by 2035 if their numbers increase or remain the same.
For example, 2021 sales for Ferrari indicated total sales of over 11,000 vehicles. Even if they are a low-production brand, they will still have to abide by the ban if they continue to produce over the specified limit. Both Lamborghini and McLaren sold fewer numbers of vehicles in 2021 – less than 8,500 and 2,200 respectively.
Going to 2035, manufacturers and car owners should expect additional rules. As such, current targets may be adjusted before the cutoff. Affected parties do not need to worry, though, as the EU promised to come out with regular reports starting in 2024. This will provide updates on the zero-emissions target.
The European Environment Agency Road transport is responsible for around 30% of the total emissions from greenhouse gases.
What are vehicle emissions?
Vehicle emissions are the substances that cars and vans release as a result of internal combustion. These emissions are pollutants that can adversely affect the environment and your well-being. Diesel vehicles are commonly known to produce high levels of toxic emissions, specifically a group of reactive gases known as nitrogen oxides or NOx.
Other types of emissions include carbon monoxide (CO), greenhouse gases, and particulate matter (PM).
Nitrogen oxides have been in the news for years because of the Dieselgate scandal in 2015 that initially involved the Volkswagen Group. Authorities in the US discovered that VW and Audi diesel vehicles sold in the American market were allegedly fitted with defeat devices that are used to cheat on emissions tests.
An emission test is done before a vehicle can be sold and driven. Cars or vans that are found to be high-performing, environmentally safe, and emissions-compliant are automatically approved for sale.
A defeat device detects when a vehicle is being tested and once this happens, it temporarily reduces emissions levels to within the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mandated limits. It manipulates emissions so authorities will see an emissions-compliant vehicle worth its premium price.
The emissions-compliant state, though, lasts only for the entirety of the regulatory test. Once the vehicle is out and driven on real-world roads, it releases unlawful amounts of NOx, often exceeding EU and WHO limits by 40 times. Defeat device-equipped vehicles, therefore, are heavy pollutants.
The Volkswagen Group had to recall hundreds of thousands of affected VW and Audi diesel vehicles as ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board. Since the diesel emissions scandal broke, they have spent billions on payoffs, including fees, fines, and compensation for aggrieved customers.
Dieselgate did not stop with the Volkswagen Group as a few years later, other carmakers were allegedly found to have used illegal defeat devices as well. Some of the manufacturers that could have possibly used the cheat device include Mercedes-Benz, Renault, BMW, and Vauxhall. Chrysler, Nissan, Ford, and Jeep are also on the list.
These carmakers deceived customers by selling the vehicles as environmentally friendly when in reality, the cars emit massive volumes of NOx every time they are on the road. Authorities urge affected car owners to hold their carmakers responsible for the negative impacts of defeat device-equipped vehicles. You should file a diesel claim against your manufacturer.
What is my diesel claim about?
A diesel emissions claim is a legal action that you bring against your carmaker so you can receive compensation for the inconveniences – financial, environmental, and health-related, that resulted from their deceitful actions. Although not all claims are successful, the majority are and you may receive compensation amounting to thousands. The specific value depends on the details of your case.
However, since not all vehicles are affected by defeat devices, your first step should be to visit ClaimExperts.co.uk to check if you are qualified to file an emission claim. They will provide you with all the information you need to determine your eligibility and help you start the claims process.
