by Gabrielle DeSantis

Countries across the world are getting with the climate change program. So much so that they are applying hard dates for banning internal combustion engine sales. But now those dates are starting to change allowing a shorter time before the ban takes place. This just happened in Europe, where the Euro 7 emissions proposals want to make the ICE ban cut off in 2026. 

The proposed internal combustion engine ban would be less than five years away

That’s less than five years away before the legislation would mandate the complete elimination of the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles. The European Commission’s Consortium for Ultra-Low Vehicle Emissions (Clove) was the first to propose the date last year. It suggests making the purchase of ICE vehicles economically more expensive for EU consumers.

“The ACEA believes that the emission limit scenarios presented by Clove, coupled with the suggested new testing conditions, would in practice result in a situation very similar to a ban of vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine, including hybrid electric vehicles,” it said last year. The problem is that a number of European-based automakers are still developing gas-powered vehicles to debut over the next several years. 

What about ICE cars still in development now?

This means that they may not be ready for sale until the 2026 ban takes place. We’re talking about companies like Ferrari and Audi to name a couple. Clove proposes adding a multi-stage catalytic system for gas-powered vehicles. This would typically be a 2.0-liter particulate filter with a pair of three-way catalysts according to AutoCar. 

That’s just one of their proposals. Another is to install a diagnostic system in each car. This would monitor the car for at least the first 150,000 miles. But these added systems would be combined with a big cut in allowable emissions.  

So taken together it would hamper performance while costing much more. Then there is the packaging and weight to contend with. In all, it makes producing an ICE vehicle completely unviable. It would effectively end ICE production. 

Pushback on the proposed ICE ban spans the spectrum of good to bad

But there is pushback. Some of it nuanced, and some of it kind of crazy. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association in particular isn’t buying it. They say that the legislation “would mean vehicles being tested in a completely unrepresentative way that would combine all of the worst cases.”

European governments are asking why tailpipe emissions are being addressed this way? It contends that the majority of vehicle emissions now come from tires and brakes. Those tailpipe emissions are so low they negate all of this extra equipment and legislation. 

So the debate continues. Should the 2026 date be applied it radically changes what the next couple of years means for manufacturers and consumers alike. And it could influence climate change legislation in other countries including the US.  

RELATED: Now They’re Banning Gas Stations

The post Internal Combustion Death Blow: Now Europe Bans Engines by 2026 appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Iconic convenience store and gas station chain 7-Eleven is lining up to help electrify daily transport. The brand plans to vastly increase the number of EV chargers it currently operates. How much? Right around %2,200 according to MotorTrend. It’s a big step in helping consumers feel better about electric vehicle ownership, and hopefully, the start of some real variety and competition in the charging game both here in America and abroad.

Which stores will be adding EV chargers?

Undoubtedly, %2200 is a hard number to get one’s head around, especially if math was a struggle in grade school. It’s best to look at the increase in terms of stores. At this moment, 7-Eleven owns 14 stores across four states. Across those stores in their respective states, there are 22 chargers. In other words, almost nothing. The local mall has more Teslas in the parking lot than 7-Eleven does charging stations.

With the increase of charging infrastructure, the American brand looks to have around 500 chargers at 250 or more stores by the end of 2022. A shocking increase indeed. Puns aside, this is good news. One of the most major reasons keeping consumers from EVs is range anxiety, and any and all steps should be taken to mitigate this.

Helping to electrify the globe

RELATED: How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Chevy Bolt?

This massive leap forward will hopefully make charging away from home all the more painless. The move will also have some unforeseen economic benefits too. Time for a quick lesson on supply and demand. If the supply of commodity increases, demand comes down, and the opposite is true. Right now, EV charging can be a little pricey in some places.

With the introduction of more chargers into the marketplace, charging companies will have to be more competitive in every way. This can mean anything from pricing to other customer features and perks. Presently, it costs about $0.30 a minute to make use of chargers at 7-Eleven. With any luck, more chargers will see prices come down.

How much longer will consumers have range anxiety?

Circling back to the topic of range anxiety: it’s a very easy thing to understand. EV chargers aren’t everywhere like gas stations are, nor are they as cheap or quick. However, all that is changing, and rather quickly. With any luck, it’ll soon be feasible to plan a simple road trip without having to alter your route to accommodate your EV. The road trip is an American pastime, given the size of the country; so it would be great to see some more charging availability in more remote areas.

Moreover, an increase in available chargers will hopefully lead to something everyone hopes for: a standard plug for electric vehicle charging. At the moment, numerous brands use different sockets, just as outlets are different in London than from outlets in New York. No matter what, more chargers are better for everyone.

The post 7-Elven Is Adding Tons of Ev Chargers to Its Stores appeared first on MotorBiscuit.