23 May 17
News

Flanders to ban ‘fossil’ vehicle sales in 2035

The government of the northern half of Belgium wants to prohibit the sales of fossil-fuel powered vehicles by 2035. Every new vehicle sold must be ‘zero-emissions’, i.e. electric. This commitment is incorporated in the so-called “Energy vision 2030-2050” policy document, resulting from negotiations between minister of energy Bart Tommelein (liberal party Open VLD), some 40 stakeholders and citizens.

The policy document also focuses on reducing the miles driven, emphasizing the need for shared mobility (public transport, electric car sharing, bike sharing) and sustainable alternatives to road transport. By 2030, sales of internal combustion engine vehicles must be reduced by half. Five years later, Flanders wants to comply with the European guidelines, meaning none of new vehicles sold can emit greenhouse gases.

Authored by: Dieter Quartier