Why the EV Ban U-Turn Matters — And What It Means for Riders

Are EV's and Electric Motorcycles doomed?

In a stunning policy reversal that’s shaking up the automotive and motorcycle world alike, regulators in Europe are stepping back from one of the most ambitious climate measures of the decade: the planned 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. What was once viewed as inevitable — the end of petrol and diesel vehicle sales — is now not quite so inevitable after all.

This shift isn’t just a line in an EU regulatory document — it’s a sign that the electrification future we’ve been sold might not unfold the way many riders, manufacturers and policymakers thought.

The 2035 Ban Backpedal: What Happened?

Just as governments appeared united behind a plan to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicle sales by 2035, things started to unravel.

According to senior European Parliament sources, the European Commission is preparing to reverse or significantly soften the planned effective combustion engine ban, abandoning rigid zero-emissions targets in favour of more flexible rules.

Instead of requiring a 100% zero-emission sales threshold by 2035, policymakers are now considering targets such as 90% CO₂ reductions or allowing hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles to continue beyond 2035 — possibly even pushing the cutoff back toward 2040.

Countries like Germany and Italy — major hubs of automotive manufacturing — have led calls for “technologically neutral” policies that embrace synthetic fuels, biofuels and hybrid solutions alongside electric vehicles.

Why the Shift Happened

There are several reasons why this U-turn is playing out:

🔧 1. EV Adoption Isn’t Happening Fast Enough

Despite years of incentives and regulation, electric vehicle sales — while growing — still represent a minority of new registrations in Europe. Policymakers are realising that infrastructure, consumer uptake and industry readiness aren’t progressing fast enough to justify a hard ban.

🏭 2. Manufacturing Jobs and Competitiveness

Countries with large ICE manufacturing bases, such as Germany, fear a straight ban could cost tens of thousands of jobs and weaken their automotive industries against global competition.

⛽ Technological Flexibility

Advances in e-fuels, hybrids, and renewable fuels are now being touted as realistic alternatives that can deliver emissions reductions without an abrupt end to combustion tech.

What This Means for UK Riders and the Motorcycle Industry

While these policy debates are focused on cars, they have real implications for motorcycles too:

🏍️ Motorcycle ICE Ban Wasn’t Fully Enforced Anyway

In the UK, proposals for a 2035 sale ban have not been legislated in a way that will practically end petrol bike sales. Motorcycles were always treated differently from cars, and current government statements suggest petrol and diesel two-wheelers can continue beyond 2030 or 2035 unless policymakers change course again.

⚡ EV Motorcycles Still Face Barriers

Even with supportive policy, electric bikes still grapple with:

• High purchase cost

• Limited range on big bikes

• Insufficient charging infrastructure for long trips

  
  

These are issues many riders already experience and are cited as reasons why a simple “EV only by X date” strategy isn’t straightforward for motorcycles.

🧠 Industry & Consumer Certainty

The U-turn gives the motorcycle industry — and riders — planning security. OEMs can continue investing in ICE bikes while developing hybrid and electric tech at a sustainable pace. Riders aren’t facing an imminent cliff where petrol isn’t an option.

So Is This a Win or a Loss?

That depends on who you ask.

For riders and traditionalists: This feels like a huge win. Fleets of petrol bikes can continue, new bikes won’t disappear overnight, and the transition to electric doesn’t have to be rushed. It acknowledges that motorcycles — especially larger machines — won’t have the same electrification pathway as cars.

For EV advocates: This is a setback. Softening the ban risks slowing investment in charging infrastructure and next-generation batteries. Critics argue that delaying strict targets will extend society’s reliance on fossil fuels, and that the urgency of climate goals should take precedence.

For manufacturers: Flexibility is golden. OEMs can sell combustion, hybrid and electric machines side by side, giving them the best chance to meet market demand without huge penalties or forced shutdowns of production lines.

Bigger Questions For Riders

This U-turn deserves some serious thought from every rider out there:

🔹 If petrol engines don’t have a hard cutoff, how does that change your future buying decisions?

🔹 Will you wait for better electric tech, or keep riding combustion bikes because they still make sense?

🔹 Could synthetic fuels be the middle ground riders have been asking for?

🔹 Does the shift back from a 2035 ban signal that EV policy has overreached — or that it’s finally adapting to reality?

The Bottom Line

The planned end of combustion engine vehicles is no longer definite — at least not in the rigid, “electric only by 2035” way it was previously framed.

Instead, what’s emerging is a more flexible, technology-inclusive approach that could allow petrol engines, hybrids and alternative fuels to play a role alongside EVs for years to come.

For the motorcycle world — where electric bikes still represent a tiny fraction of total registrations and infrastructure challenges are even more pronounced — this isn’t just political wrangling. It’s a real lifeline for riders, dealers and manufacturers alike.

The future of two-wheeled transport might finally be one that lets customers choose, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all outcome.