Europe Wanted to Lead the World on EVs. Its Carmakers Can’t Keep Up

With European EV sales and production relatively lagging behind, a blame game has emerged between automakers and policymakers. “A regulatory framework that ignores customer needs and market realities — and, at the same time, is unable to create the necessary conditions for alternative technologies — cannot succeed,” a BMW spokesperson said in a written statement to WIRED, explaining that the company opposes 2035 ban. It added that unless issues of “charging infrastructure, availability of renewable energy and access to raw materials” are addressed, the ban will shrink “the entire vehicle market”.

Given that the car industry is employment 13.8 million people Across Europe and representing about 7 percent of the continent’s GDP, such a contraction would be economically disastrous.

Low car sales have already prompted Volkswagen to announce plans to close At least three factoriesConcerns have spread in Germany about the country’s economic outlook The far-right political party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which currently Second in the vote Ahead of Germany’s snap general election in February 2025, it does not support a combustion engine ban and has made the perceived economic cost of environmental policies a key part of its messaging.

“Let’s make it clear—consumers just don’t trust e-mobility,” said Beatrix Kim, Director CAR Center for Automotive Research. “Vehicles are considered too expensive, people are worried about battery safety and also worried about charging costs.” He believes that both politicians and industry have a role to play in this change, through subsidies and investments in infrastructure such as charging solutions, and also through the creation of cheaper vehicles. “This could be strategic pricing, discounts, rebates, or just price reductions – all of which need to be balanced with financial gain,” she says. “But overall, they are [both] The public needs to understand e-mobility better and clear some myths like battery safety.”

In an effort to keep their factories and technologies alive, some European automakers have come up with the idea of ​​”clean” fuels as a way to keep selling combustion engine cars past the 2035 deadline. Germany is ahead in this regard. Successfully campaigning in 2023 The ban will be exempted for “e-fuel” powered vehicles. E-fuels, which are still in the research and development stage, are made from a combination of hydrogen and carbon dioxide and, according to their proponents, emit significantly less than gasoline.

However, not all industry experts are convinced. “E-fuel is complete nonsense,” claims Peter Mock, managing director for Europe at the International Council on Clean Transport. “The performance of these fuels is terrible, which means prices are very high – and they will remain high.” On top of that, he believes talk of alternative fuels is confusing to consumers – which could further hurt EV sales. “EVs are the most efficient, cheapest and most convenient form of transportation, and we need to communicate that,” he asserts.

Of course, the 2035 ban will only apply to EU countries, while the continent’s carmakers will continue to sell globally. One solution could be a pivot to the US market, where EV sales are predicted to surge throughout the Trump presidency Already cutting.