German neighbors are rowing back – for good reason
Combustion engines are becoming less and less attractive. This is not only ensured by strict regulations in Germany. In other EU countries, too, e-cars should become the better alternative – or even the only one. For diesel and petrol engines, Flanders in Belgium should actually soon be the end of it. But now the strict rules are becoming lax.
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Flanders falters: combustion engine off is postponed
With the rise of e-cars, that will happen Case of classic combustion engines along. The latter are considered to be far more harmful to the environment than cars with electric drives and will therefore come to an abrupt end in Europe in a few years. But in some places it should also go much faster than 2035, as specified by the EU.
At least so far: Because now the Flemish government is rowing back quite a bit, it wants Diesel vehicles from 2031 in appropriately established environmental zones no longer allow. For petrol engine on the other hand, the grace period should even be significantly extended and not until 2035 with the general collapse in the EU. As a result, the Belgian region loses its pioneering status.
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The Flemish government had previously sought a tighter pace. According to the original plan, new cars with combustion engines should no longer be allowed to be registered from 2029. Two years more time now for diesel and a full six years longer for petrol engines, at least in the cities of Antwerp and Ghent, where corresponding “low emission zones” are to be set up or tightened.
Protecting consumers: High energy prices and inflation hit e-cars
Similar to Germany, the cities can decide for themselves whether to set up appropriate zones. However, what these must look like is determined by the specifications. The reason for the now cautious restrictions on combustion engines is obvious: “People now have to wait much longer for a new car, while the inflation rate is unprecedentedly high. We give drivers a little more time to adapt,” explained Zuhal Demir, environment minister in Flanders (source: Brusselstimes).
The decision has been criticized from two sides, supporters of a quick end to combustion engines as well as opponents of a general ban. The delay in switching to e-cars shows how much trust electric vehicles are losing in the current situation. The German car expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer is also certain: the next two years will be difficult for electric cars, but they will also be decisive.
