Countries in the EU approve the 2035 phaseout of cars that emit CO2.

After securing an exemption for electric vehicles, Germany's landmark law to end sales of new cars emitting CO2 by 2035 received final approval from countries in the European Union on Tuesday.

After weeks of delay caused by last-minute opposition from Germany, Europe's main climate policy for automobiles can now enter into effect thanks to approval from energy ministers from EU countries.

From 2035 on, the EU law will require that all new cars sold have zero CO2 emissions, and from 2030 on, CO2 emissions will be 55% lower than they were in 2021. The goals are intended to accelerate the decarbonization of new European car fleets.

However, in response to Germany's request for this exemption, the European Commission has pledged to establish a legal route for the continuation of new car sales that only run on e-fuels after 2035.

It was anticipated that the EU policy would prevent the sale of cars with combustion engines in the EU beginning in 2035. However, despite the fact that e-fuels have not yet been produced on a large scale, Germany's exemption provides a potential lifeline for conventional automobiles.

The agreement would "open up important options for the population towards climate-neutral and affordable mobility," according to German transport minister Volker Wissing.

"The course of action is crystal clear: "New cars and vans must have zero emissions by 2035," stated Frans Timmermans, head of EU climate policy.

E-fuels are regarded as carbon neutral because they are produced from captured CO2 emissions, which, according to proponents, compensates for the CO2 released when the fuel is burned in an engine.

The Commission will, in fall 2023, propose how deals of e-fuel-no one but vehicles can go on after 2035. Technology will be needed to prevent these cars from starting when they are filled with gasoline or diesel.

Italy, Bulgaria, and Romania all abstained from voting, with Poland voting against the law.

EU emissions are nearly a quarter caused by transportation.

E-fuels are supported by Porsche and Ferrari, who see them as a way to keep their cars from being weighed down by bulky batteries.

Battery-electric vehicles are being backed by Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford, among others, as a means of reducing carbon emissions.

Some EU diplomats were irritated by Germany's tardy intervention after EU countries and lawmakers had already agreed to the 2035 phaseout last year. This raised concerns that governments might try to block other carefully negotiated climate policy deals.

"We don't like this approach out of principle. "We think it is not fair," Spanish energy minister Teresa Ribera said of the late response. She also said that current assessments suggest that e-fuels are too expensive to be used widely.

Tuesday, energy ministers from the EU also agreed to extend a voluntary goal of cutting down on gas use by 15% for a year to help prepare for the winter ahead with limited Russian gas.

A dispute over whether nuclear energy should count toward EU renewable energy targets, which has divided nations and is threatening to delay the EU's main renewable energy policy, was expected to be resolved by ministers, according to some EU officials.