France Plans to Ban Diesel and Gas Vehicles by 2040

On Thursday, June 6, France’s environment minister, Nicolas Hulot announced the plan to ban the sale of all diesel and gas vehicles in France by 2040. The decision is a part of the country’s renewed commitment to the Paris Climate deal. Diesel vehicles are to blame for a good portion of the pollution that surround France’s capital, and the mayor of Paris wants them banned by 2020.

Hulot says financial assistance would be given to lower-income drivers to help replace their gas vehicles. He admits this decision will be challenging, however French carmakers are in on the plan. PSA group, French car manufacturer, says their goal is to have hybrid or electric cars make up 80 percent of the cars they manufacture by 2023. In addition, the day before Hulot’s announcement, Volvo said that all of their new models starting in the year 2019 are to be battery-powered or hybrid cars that combine electric motors with diesel or gas engines.

Along with the ban on diesel and gas vehicles, Hulot also announced new proposals such as a ban on oil and gas drilling, ending coal-powered plants in France by 2020 and reducing nuclear power by half by 2025.

To read more on the announcement: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/business/energy-environment/france-cars-ban-gas-diesel.html?mcubz=0

To read Volvo’s Announcement to go Electric: http://nyti.ms/2ufzTfp