Spain considers petrol and diesel sales ban by 2040

14 November 2018

Spain is considering a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel-only vehicles by 2040, bringing it into line with other European countries.

Removing polluting vehicles from sale is one of several measures expected in coming legislation as the country tries to fall in line with the UK and France, both of whom have proposed bans on internal combustion engines by 2040.

′Some of the most important necessary changes affect transport,’ a document issued to journalists said. ′From 2040, the registration and sale in Spain of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles that directly emit carbon dioxide will not be permitted.’

The draft law would set out goals for 2030 and 2050 in cutting emissions and promote renewable power and energy efficiency within the country. These are all part of the country’s obligations under the Paris Climate Accord, in which it must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from 1990 levels in 2030, and by 90% in 2050.

The plan is included in a draft document for a law on climate change that Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government hopes to present to parliament by the end of the year.

However, the government will need to build cross-party support in parliament to get the document through. Sanchez currently holds less than a quarter of the parliament’s seats and has struggled to find support for any other major proposals including the country’s budget. Spain’s People’s Party dominates the country’s upper and lower houses.

This could present a challenge to the Prime Minister. So far this year, Spain has seen just 3,393 electric vehicle (EV) registrations and 4,063 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales. Meanwhile, 578,770 petrol and 384,676 diesel vehicles have left showrooms.

Therefore, with petrol and diesel cars still popular, the will of the people may be against low and zero-emission vehicles. The country may be forced into this position as manufacturers ramp up their EV development in line with new European CO2 targets.

The UK and France announced last year that they would look to ban the sale of internal combustion engines by 2040. Earlier this year, the UK Government released its ′Road to Zero’ paper outlining the timeline and plans around its ideas. However, some politicians in the country have called for the ban to be brought forward by eight years, to 2032.