E.U. lawmakers endorse banning combustion-engine cars by 2035

The European Parliament on Wednesday endorsed a ban on new cars with combustion engines by 2035, hoping to prompt speedier development of electric vehicles to battle climate change.

Lawmakers voted to mandate automakers to cut carbon-dioxide emissions by 100% within 13 years,  essentially banning the sale in the 27-nation bloc of new cars powered by gasoline or diesel.

EU lawmakers also endorsed a 55% reduction in automobile carbon dioxide emissions.

Environmentalists applauded the vote as a move in the right direction to fight global warming while Germany’s auto industry lobby VDA warned that lawmakers were ignoring the lack of charging infrastructure in Europe.