Europe is abandoning diesel cars. A ban will also be in place in Rome starting in 2024. But incentives are needed...

The Leipzig court's decision accelerates the pace of change: in Germany, cities can ban diesel vehicles. In 2017, one million electric and hybrid cars were sold, 780 in China.

di |
ban on the circulation of diesel cars

BAN ON DIESEL CARS

This time, we're here. Governments, local administrations, and the automotive industry across Europe are pushing in the same direction: goodbye to diesel and onward to new mobility , under the banner of hybrid and electric vehicles.

STOP DIESEL CARS IN ROME

At the same time, the Federal Court in Leipzig authorized all German cities to ban diesel vehicles to reduce polluting emissions, and Rome's mayor, Virginia Raggi , announced a ban on diesel cars in the city starting in 2024. These decisions follow similar decisions in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and other European countries. Meanwhile, major manufacturers, such as Volkswagen, have decided to phase out diesel and produce only "clean" cars (the Germans aim to become the world's leading carmakers within the next five years).

ALSO READ: Did you know that cars were born electric? Read this fascinating story in a book that explores our future.

DIESEL CARS BANNED IN CENTRAL ROME

So, what cars will we see on the road in the coming years? As I said, the medium- to long-term horizon is electric ; in the short term, hybrids continue to gain ground. In France, these two technologies accounted for 4,1 percent of registrations last year, in Germany 2,0 percent, in Italy 10 percent, and in Norway 40 percent of drivers travel in electric cars.

The timing will also depend on two factors to keep an eye on: infrastructure, namely charging stations, and the cost of electric cars, which is expected to decline to allow these vehicles to become a mass-market product. Surprisingly, in these two areas, China, rather than Europe, is currently ahead. This is why in 2017, out of a million hybrid or electric vehicles sold worldwide, 782 had Chinese license plates. This market has grown by 56 percent in just 12 months.

TO KNOW MORE: The best electric cars on the market (photos). New models are on the rise, and prices are dropping.

ALTERNATIVES TO DIESEL CARS

Returning to Italy, among the manufacturers taking action is Fiat , which until a few years ago was very sceptical about electric cars, and the only one who can think about the charging stations is Enel, which has already presented a plan for a military invasion of the filling stations: 7 thousand charging stations by 2020 , 14 thousand by 2022.

The key to providing a decisive boost to new mobility in Italy lies in the hands of the government. To promote this new technology, the good intentions, even the peremptory ones, of mayors are certainly not enough; incentive policies for this type of vehicle are also needed. This has always been the case in the automotive industry. And strong support will be needed to provide Italy with a real network of electric charging stations , without which this type of vehicle will be unable to take off on the market.

( Credits: DnDavis / Shutterstock.com )

HOW TO SAVE ON CAR EXPENSES:

Want to see a selection of our news?

Don't Waste