Britain faces being further removed from EU net zero policies after the bloc’s biggest political group demanded plans for a ban on petrol car sales by 2035 be watered down.
The European People’s Party (EPP), the biggest grouping in the European Parliament, wants a revision to the rules beyond 2035 for vehicles that run on alternative zero-emission fuels, Reuters reported.
The proposal would mean cars running all or in part on e-fuels or synthetics would continue to be produced and sold, said the report.
The EPP added it wanted to allow development of “cutting-edge combustion technology”.
The group won 188 seats out of 720 in the recent European elections, and counts European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as a member.
Rishi Sunak was warned recently by UK-based car maker Vauxhall that his plan to phase out petrol cars starting this year with a total ban by 2035 might see factories close.
Labour said it would be tougher and bring the ban on new petrol cars forward to 2030, its original timeframe before the Tories introduced a five-year delay.
Carmakers have warned that demand for electric cars is waning due to their cost and a lack of charging infrastructure.
Sales for new electric cars fell by 30% in Germany in May and by 12.5% across the continent, after rising strongly for several years.