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While the growth in EV sales is encouraging, it is essential that firm policies and new vehicle emission standards are established to ensure a sustainable future. This is the conclusion of a new report by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E).

Tasked with promoting sustainable transport in Europe, T&E publishes its "Cars and CO₂" report annually, offering a progress update and recommendations for the future. The 2014 report notes that EV sales have roughly doubled every year since 2010, and almost 50,000 plug-in vehicles were sold in the EU in 2013, with the Renault ZOE topping the list.

The EU represents around a quarter of sales worldwide, with Norway and the Netherlands leading the way thanks to attractive tax incentives for buyers. Based on current trends, EV sales in Europe would surpass the 100,000 mark by 2015 and reach 1 million by 2025.

However, the report insists on the need to align policy-making with long-term sustainability goals. It criticizes the supercredit system that allows companies to artificially lower fleet emission averages by acquiring EVs, because there is no motivation to improve conventional vehicle efficiency. The report also raises concerns about German carmakers' proposal to include transport in the Emissions Trading Scheme, as this would trigger an increase in transport emissions and reduce innovation in the EV sector.

T&E recommends establishing fleet average CO₂ limits based on tailpipe emissions and, following the Californian model, it suggests setting a minimum of 10% EV sales for car manufacturers by 2025.

At the same time, the report insists that EVs are not an absolute solution for sustainable mobility. A truly sustainable future means EVs being powered by renewable energy, other forms of transport becoming zero-emission, and people everywhere  sharing cars, taxis and fleets.

Read the report here.

Picture credit: via Transport & Environment