Bareiß and other opponents of the 2035 legislation are latching on to technological neutrality to further weaken the law, which some automakers and political groups say should allow hybrids and other types of vehicles that combine combustion engines and batteries.
Hildegard Müller, president of German car lobby VDA, said more needs to be done to “implement technological openness. This also includes giving greater consideration to the role of plug-in hybrids beyond 2035.”
Climate groups say that hybrids still emit CO2, violating the 2035 law.
The law’s defenders are fighting a rear-guard battle to keep the legislation from being so watered down that it becomes useless.
“The EU Commission is opening Pandora’s box, because the EPP wants to do more than just turn a few screws, it wants to completely overturn the combustion engine ban,” said Green MEP Michael Bloss.
Socialist MEP François Kalfon approved the EU auto rescue package but fears the Commission’s review might turn into an effort to kill the 2035 ban.
“It has to be a review clause, not a dropout clause, and that’s the risk,” he told POLITICO on a train back from the Renault factory.
Gabriel Gavin and Nicolas Camut contributed to this report.
