EU Court of Auditors: Transition to Electric Cars is Difficult

To be completely climate neutral by 2050, CO₂ emissions from cars with combustion engines must be reduced, alternative fuels must be available, and a massive shift to fully electric vehicles must occur.

The transport sector is responsible for about a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. Half of that comes from passenger cars alone.

“The Green Deal can only be achieved if car emissions are addressed. However, we must admit that most conventional cars, despite high ambitions and strict requirements, still emit as much CO₂ as twelve years ago,” says Nikolaos Milionis of the European Court of Auditors.

Although testing standards have been tightened since 2010, EU auditors found that actual emissions have not significantly decreased in twelve years. While engines have become more efficient, this has been offset by heavier cars on average (an increase of about 10%) and more powerful engines required for that weight (an increase of 25%).

Alternative fuels such as biofuels, e-fuels, or hydrogen are often mentioned as possible successors to gasoline and diesel. “Because they are not available on a large scale, biofuels cannot provide a reliable and credible alternative for our cars,” the ECA has stated previously.

Since CO₂ emissions from combustion engines cannot be completely reduced, fully electric vehicles seem to be the only feasible alternative. However, the auditors have identified problems on both the demand and supply sides. Therefore, EU countries must start producing more affordable electric cars themselves as soon as possible and also establish their own battery industry.

Furthermore, a sufficient charging infrastructure is needed for electromobility, as noted by the ECA in 2021. But in practice, many Europeans considering buying an electric car still face accessibility issues. There has been some improvement in this area over recent years.

“The European Union has placed fully electric vehicles at the center of its ambitious quest for an emission-free fleet. However, it must not only reconcile the Green Deal with its industrial sovereignty but also with affordable prices for consumers.

Urgent action is needed to ensure the European industry can produce electric cars on a large scale at competitive prices,” is the concluding statement of the Court of Auditors.