Brussels aggravates the blow to diesel and gasoline cars: those that remain in 2035 will have to pay more

The European Commission threatens that the cost of ownership of combustion vehicles “could rise”.

The European Union has just given one of the worst news to consumers with fewer resources: the ban on buying the cheapest cars on the market – diesel and gasoline – from 2035. All this was announced by Brussels just over a week ago. And now, the EU has decided to aggravate the blow to the pockets of workers with lower incomes: citizens who cannot change the old car and keep their gasoline or diesel cars will have to pay more for them.

The explanation has come from the hand of an official guide where Brussels explains in detail the scope of its measure. And there you can discover and read the second blow against the most humble homes.

The text of that documentation confirms that “all new cars and vans sold in the EU from 2035 must have zero emissions.” Beware, because that means that not even hybrid motor cars are spared the prohibition and punishment for their conservation.

And “what does this mean in practice?” the EU says. Well, the first thing, that “from 2035, all new cars that reach the market should have zero emissions, they cannot emit CO2” to guarantee “that in 2050 the transport sector becomes carbon neutral”.

The key, novel and painful answer comes after a second question from this guide: “What will happen to today’s gasoline/combustion engine cars? Can we continue to drive them after 2035?” The answer initially details that “you can still drive your current car”, because “the new rules do not imply that all cars on the road must have zero emissions by 2035. These rules do not affect existing cars. If you buy a new car now, you can drive it to the end of its useful life.” “Because the average lifespan of a car is 15 years, you have to start in 2035 to make all cars CO2 neutral by 2050,” says the European Commission. But it is not true that the rules do not affect cars on the road with emissions.

Brussels denies itself in the following paragraph and goes on to admit that drivers who keep their vehicles powered by fossil fuels will have problems: “However, the total cost of ownership – cost of fuel, maintenance, purchase and insurance – could increase,” says the EU. Given that the demand for petrol or diesel will plummet because of the restriction of the manufacture and sale of vehicles based on this type of fuel, there can only be one reason for Brussels to know that the cost of fuel will rise rather than fall: that artificial prices will be regulated, via taxes or via increased costs in the preparation of fuels or insurance contracting. Translated: that the EU is going to make these cars and fuels more expensive to finish forcing consumers to change their car.

After the announcement of this second blow to the middle and lower classes, Brussels explains victoriously in its guide that “the purchase trend will migrate mainly towards battery electric vehicles, because the total cost of ownership is lower than the alternatives”. Of course: especially if there is an official decision to punish the rest.

“Will electric cars be affordable?” asks Brussels in its guide, aware that an all-electric car currently costs about twice as much as the rest. “It’s more cost-effective to use electric vehicles, as electricity prices are currently lower than gasoline prices and require less maintenance,” he says. “So, once purchased, the total cost of ownership of a battery car is the same or cheaper than a petrol or diesel car,” he argues. He adds, finally: “However, nowadays electric cars are expensive. The new rules should encourage greater competition and encourage manufacturers to invest in research and innovation in electric vehicles, which should lower the purchase price.” “It should.” And if not, then new loss of purchasing power for families.

Source: LibreMercado