Renew gas-powered vehicles after 2035! Toyota proposal challenges European car carbon reduction rules

2026/10/20 08:45 Text/Reporter Chen Yingjie Picture source/Toyota

Europe continues to discuss the carbon reduction policy for new cars in 2035. Toyota has put forward new proposals, hoping that the European Union will fully use fuel vehicles that meet qualified renewable fuels and include them in the scope of zero-emission vehicle certification, allowing internal combustion engines to maintain room for development in the process of carbon reduction transformation.

Toyota said it hopes European regulators will establish common certification standards that are consistent with the EU's Renewable Energy Directive, allowing vehicles that only use qualified renewable fuels to qualify as zero-emission vehicles. However, this proposal does not apply to all gasoline vehicles as long as they occasionally add recycled fuel, but requires that the vehicle must exclusively use fuel that meets the specifications.

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According to current regulations, the European Union originally planned to reduce the average carbon dioxide emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans by 100% from 2035; the European Commission has also proposed to adjust to a 90% reduction, and the remaining emissions can be compensated through qualified fuels or European low-carbon steel. If the relevant directions are adopted, it will leave some room for internal combustion engine models after 2035.

To verify the practical application of renewable fuels, Toyota launched a six-month trial with BMW, Bosch and Spanish energy company Repsol in July this year. About 20 vehicles used 100% recycled gasoline provided by Repsol. Bosch provides a digital tracking system that integrates vehicle, gas station and fuel card transaction information to confirm fuel usage.

However, even if renewable fuel has the opportunity to reduce net emissions in the carbon cycle, vehicles will still emit carbon dioxide when burning fuel; in addition, how to ensure that car owners always use only qualified fuel is also a major challenge in policy implementation. Whether Toyota's proposal can be adopted by the EU remains to be discussed.