A phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles refers to bans or discouragement (for example via taxes) on the sale of new fossil-fuel powered vehicles or use of existing fossil-fuel powered vehicles, as well the encouragement of using other forms of transportation. Vehicles that are powered by fossil fuels, such as gasoline (petrol), diesel, kerosene, and fuel oil have been phased out in some countries and are scheduled to be phased out by a number of other countries. It is one of the three most important parts of the general fossil fuel phase-out process, the others being the phase-out of fossil fuel power plants for electricity generation and decarbonisation of industry.
Many countries and cities around the world have stated they will ban the sale of passenger vehicles (primarily cars and buses) powered by fossil fuels such as petrol, liquefied petroleum gas, and diesel at some specific time in the future. A few have actually implemented this change. Synonyms for the bans include phrases like "banning gas cars", "banning petrol cars", "the petrol and diesel car ban", or simply "the diesel ban". Another method of phase-out is the use of zero-emission zones in cities.
Background
Reasons for banning the further sale of fossil fuel vehicles include: reducing health risks from pollution particulates, notably diesel PM10s, and other emissions, notably nitrogen oxides; meeting national greenhouse gas, such as CO2, targets under international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement; or energy independence. The intent to ban vehicles powered by fossil fuels is attractive to governments as it offers a simpler compliance target, compared with a carbon tax or phase-out of fossil fuels.
The automotive industry is working to introduce electric vehicles to adapt to bans with varying success and it is seen by some in the industry as a possible source of money in a declining market. A 2020 study from the Eindhoven University of Technology showed that the manufacturing emissions of batteries of new electric cars are much smaller than what was assumed in the 2017 IVL study (around 75 kg /kWh) and that the lifespan of lithium batteries is also much longer than previously thought (at least 12 years with a mileage of 15,000 km annually): they are cleaner than internal combustion cars powered by diesel or petrol.
There is some opposition to simply moving from fossil-fuel-powered cars to electric cars, as they would still require a large proportion of urban land. On the other hand, there are many types of (electric) vehicles that take up little space, such as (cargo) bicycles and electric motorcycles and scooters. Making cycling and walking over short distances, especially in urban areas, more attractive and feasible with measures such as removing roads and parking spaces and improving cycling infrastructure and footpaths (including pavements), provides a partial alternative to replacing all fossil-fuelled vehicles with electric vehicles. Although there are as yet very few completely carfree cities (such as Venice), several are banning all cars in parts of the city, such as city centers.
Methods The banning of fossil-fuelled vehicles of a defined scope requires authorities to enact legislation that restricts them in a certain way. Proposed methods include: A prohibition on further sales or registration of new vehicles powered with specific fuels from a certain date in a certain area. At the date of implementation, existing vehicles would remain legal to drive on public highways. A prohibition on the importation of new vehicles powered with specific fuels from a certain date into a certain area. This is planned in countries such as Denmark and Israel; however, some countries, such as Israel, have no legislation on the subject. A prohibition on any use of certain vehicles powered with specific fuels from a certain date within a certain area. Restrictions such as these are already in place in many European cities, usually in the context of their low-emission zones (LEZs).
Fuel cell (electric) vehicles (FCVs or FCEVs) also allow running on (some) non-fossil fuels (i.e., hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, ).
Cities generally use the introduction of low-emission zones (LEZs) or zero-emission zones (ZEZs), sometimes with an accompanying air quality certificate sticker such as Crit'air (France), to restrict the use of fossil-fuelled cars in some or all of its territory. These zones are growing in number, size, and strictness. Some city bans in countries such as Italy, Germany, and Switzerland are only temporarily activated during particular times of the day, during winter, or when there is a smog alert (for example, in Italy in January 2020); these do not directly contribute to the phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles, but they make owning and using such vehicles less attractive as their utility is restricted and the cost of driving them increases.
Some countries have given consumers various incentives such as subsidies or tax breaks to stimulate the purchase of electric vehicles, while fossil-fuelled vehicles are taxed increasingly heavily.
Places with existing phase-out Helped by government incentives, Norway became the first country to have the majority of new vehicles sold be electric. In 2017, Norway set a target of ending sales of new Internal Combustion Engined cars by 2025. Measures included tax incentives and access to bus lanes and reduced tolls. In January 2022, 88 per cent of new vehicles sold in the country were electric. In January 2026, only seven new petrol cars were sold in Norway, with 29 hybrid, 98 diesel and more than 2000 battery electric cars. However, contrary to many false reports on the matter, this was a collection of incentives rather than an outright ban on new fossil fuel vehicles sales. EV sales reached 50% of new car sales by September 2018 and 98% of new sales in December 2025. By 2024, the majority of cars on the road were electric.
In 2024, Ethiopia announced a ban on the import of Internal Combustion Engined vehicles, leading to a boom in electric vehicle sales.
Places with planned fossil-fuel vehicle restrictions
International At the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow multiple governments and companies signed a non-legally-binding declaration to accelerate the transition to 100% zero emission cars and vans (the Glasgow Declaration). They wanted all new cars and vans to not emit any greenhouse gas at the tailpipe by 2035 in leading markets and by 2040 globally. The United States and China (the biggest car markets) did not sign and neither did Germany (the biggest car market in the EU). Also absent from the list of signatories were major car manufacturers Volkswagen, Toyota, Renault-Nissan and Hyundai-Kia.
European Union In 2018, Denmark proposed an EU-wide prohibition on petrol and diesel cars, but that turned out to be contrary to EU regulations. In October 2019, Denmark made a proposal for phasing out fossil fuel vehicles on the member state level by 2030 which was supported by 10 other EU member states. In July 2021, France opposed a ban on combustion-powered cars and in particular on hybrid vehicles. In July 2021, the European Commission proposed a 100% reduction of emissions for new sales of cars and vans as of 2035. On 8 June 2022, the European Parliament voted in favour of the proposal of the European Commission, but agreement with the European Union member states was necessary before a final law could be passed.
On 22 June 2022, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner stated that his government would refuse to agree on the ban. But on 29 June 2022, after 16 hours of negotiations, all climate ministers of the 27 EU member states agreed to the commission's proposal (part of the 'Fit for 55' package) to effectively ban the sale of new internal combustion vehicles by 2035 (through '[introducing] a 100% emissions reduction target by 2035 for new cars and vans'). Germany backed the 2035 target, asking the Commission whether hybrid vehicles or -neutral fuels could also comply with the proposal; Frans Timmermans responded that the Commission kept an "open mind", but at the time 'hybrids did not deliver sufficient emissions cuts and alternative fuels were prohibitively expensive.' The law for "zero CO2 emissions for new cars and vans in 2035" was approved by the European Parliament on 14 February 2023.
In September 2024, Italy's industry minister called on the EU to reassess its 2035 ban on petrol and diesel cars, suggesting an earlier review for clarity. The Italian government pushed for greater flexibility in achieving decarbonization goals and a more gradual transition from combustion engines.
Countries Countries with proposed bans or implementing 100% sales of zero-emissions vehicles include China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Japan, Singapore, the UK, South Korea, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Canada, the 12 US states that adhered to California's Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program, Sri Lanka, Cabo Verde, and Costa Rica. See Table 2.1
Countries that have already reached near 100% zero-emissions vehicles are Norway and Ethiopia.
Country Start yearStatus Scope Details Armenia 2040Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration Emitting New vehicle sales by 2040 at latest. Austria 2035EU regulation Emitting New vehicle sales by 2035. Azerbaijan 2040Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration Emitting New vehicle sales by 2040 at latest. Belgium 2035EU regulation Emitting New vehicle sales by 2035. Cambodia 2040Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration Emitting New vehicle sales by 2040 at latest. Canada 2035Climate plan Diesel, petrol, non-electric New light-duty vehicle sales. Cape Verde 2040Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration Emitting New vehicle sales by 2040 at latest. Chile 2035 Chilean government Green New Deal Diesel, petrol New vehicle sales. People's Republic of China 2035 Government climate plan Diesel, petrol New private vehicle sales and registration. Costa Rica 2050https://presidencia.go.cr/comunicados/2019/02/sintesis-plan-nacional-de-descarbonizacion-2018-2050/ "SÍNTESIS: PLAN NACIONAL DE DESCARBONIZACIÓN 2018–2050 [...] 2050: 100% de las ventas de vehículos ligeros nuevos será de vehículos cero emisiones Proposed by Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado as a "roadway" in 2019. Diesel, petrol New light vehicle sales. Croatia 2035EU regulation Emitting New vehicle sales by 2035. Cyprus 2035EU regulation Emitting New vehicle sales by 2035. Denmark 2035EU regulation Diesel, petrol New vehicle sales by 2035. Dominican Republic 2040Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration Emitting New vehicle sales by 2040 at latest. Egypt 2040 Government plan Diesel, petrol, non-electric New car sales. El Salvador 2040Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration Emitting New vehicle sales by 2040 at latest. Ethiopia 2024 Ethiopia's Transport and Logistics Ministries announcement Non-electric New imported vehicles by 2024. Finland 2035EU regulation Emitting New vehicle sales by 2035. Germany 2035EU regulation Emitting New vehicle sales by 2035. Ghana 2040Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration Emitting New vehicle sales by 2040 at latest. Greece 2035 EU regulation Emitting New vehicle sales by 2035. Holy See 2040Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration Emitting New vehicle sales by 2040 at latest. Hong Kong (PRC) 2035 Hong Kong Legislature plan, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic Of China. Diesel, petrol New private vehicle sales and registration. Iceland 2030climate plan Cars that run exclusively on Diesel, petrol New car sales, but with exceptions for regional considerations (areas where it would be difficult to ban petrol or diesel cars). India 2034 2040Government plan